The Stranger – by BEN LIVINGSTON
As thousands of stoners prepare to convene at the world’s largest pot rally this weekend, the Seattle Police Department is planning to distribute information to Hempfest attendees about the state’s new legalization law—on stickers attached to bags of chips.
Seriously.
Because while stoners have no problem ignoring a leaflet, police recognize that it’s nearly impossible to turn down a bag of Doritos.
“Distributing salty snacks at a festival celebrating hemp, I think, is deliberately ironic enough that people will accept them in good humor,” says police department spokesman Sergeant Sean Whitcomb. “We want to make sure people learn the rules and that they respect the vote.”
The labels on the snack-sized bags will direct festival attendees to the SPD’s post-legalization FAQ titled “Marijwhatnow?” which went viral last November, reminding citizens that possessing up to an ounce of pot is allowed, but selling and growing the stuff remains illegal (until licenses are issued later this year by the state).
With funding for the project coming entirely from the privately run Seattle Police Foundation, police say they plan to distribute about 1,000 bags of Doritos over the weekend.
The SPD isn’t just being progressive by national political standards—the cops in Seattle are more progressive than the rest of city government. The city council and city attorney are currently focused on crafting a new municipal citation for public pot smoking, despite the fact that cops can already cite people for public consumption under state law. But instead of issuing tickets, the SPD has been warning people getting high in public that they can be ticketed—the state has a form officers can use—but has only been asking violators to extinguish their pot. Police say this has remedied the situation without handing out citations.
In that vein, Whitcomb confirms that the “spirit of Initiative 502” will govern enforcement at Hempfest this year, and police will not issue tickets for public toking.
“We’ve said all along that this is a momentous period in our history. We only get to do it once,” says Whitcomb. “Our department has taken a leadership role in public education, and it’s a responsibility we are taking very seriously. We are not looking to have a heavy hand when it comes to enforcement. That said, the rules are the rules, and we want people to voluntarily comply with them.”
Will cops give out tickets instead of snacks at next year’s Hempfest? Whitcomb doubts it, saying the department is guided by a voter-enacted city ordinance from 2003 that deprioritized marijuana enforcement, adding, “It’s not as if we get a lot of complaints about it.” 
Hempfest is August 16–18 on the downtown waterfront, admission is free, more information at hempfest.org.
Ok that sounds a lot like profiling….and profiling is wrong…hey wait. Is that a Hershey bar? Can I have some?
Fair play to Seattle for doing this, refreshing to see coppers using their brains instead of their guns and tasers too.
My big concern would be that the local governments get too greedy with taxation forcing people to use the black market to avoid hefty taxes but it will be very interesting to watch the crime rates over the next few years, not just the drug crimes but the feeder crimes to buy the drugs and see if they fall because if they do then the argument against legalising it is going to be fairly lame.
This reminds me of when the cops in minneapolis were giving away crack, meth, herb and lsd to some of them occupy wall street protesters. and they were giving it away to kids and protesters to infiltrate the protest.
Millard from diggerdan’s, I wonder what the pigs laced those doritos with and then turn “em loose to discredit the cause. We all know how they play dirty.
Lol Millard. They probably don’t have to lace the doritos with anything….the stoners are already stoned and doritos aren’t really the healthiest things to eat.
You do raise a good point tho….load the doritos with say pcp and watch the hempfest go out of control…
Yeah, they gave away crap before…at the same time they were using micro-cams to take pics for their Facial Recognition Software. These oinkers don’t “give” anything except pain & death.
Yes they are some sick bastards aren`t they BentSpear
Their carrot on a stick approach should be recognized as a old school tactic by now. I wouldn’t eat those chips or any foodstuffs passed out by LEO. They can re-seal bags after they dope the contents. These same azzholes are the ones we trusted to uphold their Oath & look how that’s playing out.
The other thing I might add is showing up at ANY protest under the influence is detrimental & dangerous.
Cool Ranch or Nacho Cheese?
No bean dip?
It makes a difference ya know, RT. lol
lol!
I haven’t had either in Many years.
I didn’t like the cool ranch when it came out….. Nacho cheese With! bean dip lol!
(Really just like refried beans, tomatoes, jalapeno’s, onion, verde, hot sauce, pepper and cheese (sour cream if have) plain, with veggies, gmo & gf chips or make own chips. 🙂
Nacho Cheese Dorito’s with Bean Dip as I remember was good tho back then!, and so were 7/11 green burrito’s (3:00-4:00am) lol:)
🙂 Yes RT, I guess that they could call those Doritoes as a good source of daily fiber sick as they are.
Hey Digger! 🙂
I suppose you are right, you can only eat as well as what your budget includes. ( I Try to make some days special, depends on sales) 🙂
Mine today a glucerna, coffee and peanuts.
From what I here peanuts aren’t good for you any more either……but Is fiber and protien 🙂
Saving up for a bday dinner and trip have to make up north before winter.
All is good here, how ya been doing up there?
Cool Ranch were the only ones I ever liked (back when I used to eat them). No dip of any kind with Doritos. Clam or onion dip with plain potato chips.
With plain tortilla chips I love that cream cheese with salsa combination.
I just don’t snack much anymore like I used to. 🙂
Choice of dips sound good #1:)
Good talking with you and Digger 😀
Have a great weekend!
It is always good RT. You have your selves a excellent weekend 🙂 Good to see ya back again RT.
If anyone believes these “free” chips are harmless, they better think again!
Avoid those fascist pigs like the plague. A percentage of those freebees could very well be laced with a lethal toxin or biological agent.
We are dealing with fascists who are capable of ANYTHING!
Most of us know what it means when a cop says “Trust me, I can help you out”
They are the enemy!