This is my home city, and I have to admit this news has me a little more eager to visit home. Not that Seattlites haven't been enjoying the herb with little restriction/fear since before I was born. It is after all "The Evergreen State", but knowing I no longer have to look over my shoulder in the more populated areas is a very nice idea, assuming they don't over regulate. FYI the herb has always been a very strong part of the Economy in the Evergreen state, but now presumably the government will make more from direct sales than they did from a clogged court system and shady dealings.

@stonebat, why do you think we have so many coffee shops? Gotta stay motivated ;)

@mee, how's the government going to make more when federal law say it's still illegal?

California experienced a 20% drop in juvenile crime, just from decriminalization. So stupid to ruin a kids life if he gets busted for weed.

@HillTop1 I was refer-ring to the state government not federal. My understanding is there is going to be a state tax on sales. Of course it is also going to be legal to grow personal in limited quantity, so it will be interesting to see how many actually use the state licensed sales sites. I definitely think many will opt for buying it over the counter, but again it is a huge part of life in those parts that isn't going to magically go out of the hands of local growers anytime soon, and many growers rightfully will be skeptical about becoming state licensed growers due to the obvious potential of federal interference which has already been seen in medical dispensary's. It will be very interesting to see how pricing is affected over the next few years, and how they deal with the mobs of out of staters wanting to come buy some legal weed.

@Douglashorn, I am actually in Japan these days, but it is definitely possible. Where are you from?

@DouglasHorn Yeah, I doubt it would have passed in Washington with any sort of tax on individuals growing for themselves. This would have opened a serious intrusion door, and the laws were already pretty relaxed on personal growing so long as you keep to the maximum number of plants. Same with Oregon, Cali, and I am sure other states, though the number varied from each state. Something allot of people don't get, it was never a criminal offence if you kept it under the limit, and the fine was pretty much the same as that of getting caught with under an ounce, ie an infraction, at least last I checked. Unfortunately this is not common knowledge though, so many make the mistake of growing 10 or 20 plants, and get the big charges thrown at them.

@JRD What you say is all true of course. The Prison Industrial Complex. Don't forget the privatization of prison. Big business! There's gold in them chains! Also, Obama has recently signaled an easing of the fed's crackdown on pot use/sales.