H-1357              _______________________________________________

                                           HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 4013

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Heavey, Padden, Wineberry, Anderson, Crane, Valle, Holland, K. Wilson, Zellinsky, Fraser, Rasmussen, Raiter, Kremen, Hargrove, Haugen, Patrick, Horn, Dorn, Baugher, Ferguson, Fuhrman and Wood

Read first time 2/15/89 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

TO THE HONORABLE CHARLES ROYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AS ASSEMBLED:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Washington has expressed repeatedly, and in many ways, its grave concern over the effects of drugs on the citizens of the state, especially its young citizens; and

          WHEREAS, The criminal law of the state has for many years made unauthorized possession of controlled substances, including small amounts of marijuana, illegal; and

          WHEREAS, The City of Seattle has adopted an official policy, reflected in a city ordinance, that is contrary to state law and that effectively legalizes the possession or use of forty grams or less of marijuana; and

          WHEREAS, Over the past several years the potency of commonly available marijuana has increased dramatically to the point that the drug cannot be thought of as harmless; and

          WHEREAS, Marijuana is well known to be a gateway drug that often leads to the use of even more addicting and debilitating drugs; and

          WHEREAS, Decriminalizing the possession of marijuana sends a completely unacceptable message to our citizens;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urges the City of Seattle to change its policies and ordinances to comply with state law respecting penalties for possession of marijuana; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Honorable Charles Royer, Mayor of the City of Seattle, the members of the Seattle City Council, and the chief law enforcement officer.