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Seattle throws out pot convictions:
Judges in Seattle have decided to quash convictions for marijuana possession for anyone prosecuted in the city between 1996 and 2010. City Attorney Pete Holmes asked the court to take the step "to right the injustices of a drug war that has primarily targeted people of colour."
Possession of marijuana became legal in the state of Washington in 2012.
Officials estimate that more than 542 people could have their convictions dismissed by mid-November.
Mr Holmes said the city should "take a moment to recognise the significance" of the court's ruling. "We've come a long way, and I hope this action inspires other jurisdictions to follow suit," he said. Mayor Jenny Durkan also welcomed the ruling, which she said would offer residents a "clean slate."
Order (PDF).
See also: Vacating misdemeanor marijuana convictions is the right thing to do (Editorial)
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Snotnose on Friday September 28 2018, @10:49PM (3 children)
I was probably 18 as my parents didn't know anything about it, which would be '76. Me and 2 buddies in Centennial park (now under the 125, right next to the Davis YMCA) smoking before heading to the miniature golf place (also now under the 125) to spend some money. Something we did 2-3 times a week during the summer (I was a wicked miniature golf player as a kid) We got surrounded. I mean, the frontal cops came in from the parking lot, where we could see them, do an Oh Shit, and Try To Hide The Evidence. Then 4 cops came up behind us from the miniature golf course, which was a maybe 20 foot hill they had to climb and nailed us.
I had a newly purchased bag of homegrown which, in those days, was better than the regular stuff. A nice 6 finger bag. Cops took my bag and bong, gave me a ticket cuz I fessed up to owning them.
Went to court. The bong was prominently displayed, as was the bag of weed. Which was maybe a 2 finger bag at this point. I don't remember the outcome, nothing serious, probably a $100 fine and a promise to never ever cross my heart and hope to die do it again.
So. There were maybe 8 cops, in 4 cars, responding to a report of 3 kids smoking weed in a public park. And a good 2/3 of my weed vanished before showing up in court. I learned a lot with that episode. After going to court and doing whatever that incident never again came up in my life, except when I meet one of the other guys and we reminisce (Hey Ken and Dave, do you read Soylent?).
Another CSB from the same miniature golf course. I hung out there a lot because they had pinball games, and early video games (that MIT game with a rocket going up through an asteroid field? They had one, I had top score on it). For some reason a cop rousted me in the arcade. I was into chemistry back then and had a bag of some white chemical. Cop found it on me and went to taste it, I yelled "Don't do that!". Something about the way I said it stopped him. I don't remember what I had in my pocket that day but it wasn't coke/heroin, and you really didn't want to ingest it.
How about a third? I had a paper route as a kid. 95% of my paper route is now under the 125. Glad I had a lasting influence.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Saturday September 29 2018, @02:27AM (2 children)
It was BiCentennial park, dedicated in 1976. My bad.
It went under the 125 maybe 20 years later. Quite possibly less, I'd moved away by then.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 29 2018, @03:22AM (1 child)
Were you there when the plane crashed in San Diego?
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Saturday September 29 2018, @06:07PM
Ayup. In college between classes saw a huge plume of smoke in the distance. Didn't find out what it was until a couple hours later. Drove through the site about a week later, it was pretty eerie.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.