Seattle’s City Attorney Makes an Opening Day Marijuana Purchase

Seattle’s City Attorney Pete Holmes was a prominent, and early, backer of Washington’s legalization.  Among other things, Holmes authored a 2012 op-ed in the Seattle Times making the case for legalization.  And yesterday, Holmes may have become the most prominent politician to buy now-legal–well, except under federal law–marijuana.  Holmes purchased two 2-gram bags of marijuana, saying he would keep one “for posterity” and use the other “for personal enjoyment at some point when it’s appropriate.”

Though his “personal enjoyment” quote has received the most media coverage so far, Holmes also took the opportunity to reiterate his reasons for supporting marijuana legalization:

“This can happen responsibly,” said Holmes.  “Driving this market this industry this amazingly demanded product into the shadows does not advance public safety.  The best way you can support law enforcement is to make this legal and regulate it and tax it and that’s the message here.”