Secretary of State Certifies Marijuana-Decriminalization Initiative

Good news, pot smokers and freedom lovers: Today, the Secretary of State's office provisionally certified marijuana-decriminalization Initiative 502 to the Legislature, a move they're constitutionally obligated to do but is nevertheless exciting*. Basically, it means that the Legislature can now get the ball rolling in Olympia and assign the measure to its proper hearing committee while Secretary of State Sam Reed finishes up a random, three-percent check for valid Initiative signatures (or 10,638 signatures).

For those of you new to the process, Reed's office explains that once in committee, the Legislature can:

·Pass the measure

·Reject it and let it go to the November ballot

·Ignore it and let it go the ballot

·Let it go to the ballot along with a legislative alternative

It has been seven years since Initiatives to the Legislature were on the state ballot. I-330 and I-336, both dealing with medical malpractice, were rejected by voters.