OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A former U.S. attorney from Seattle says marijuana should be decriminalized and regulated to end the unnecessary violence spawned by the drug trade in the U.S. and Mexico.
John McKay was part of a panel of officials invited by Democratic Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson of Seattle to speak in favor of a marijuana legalization bill at a news conference Wednesday.
The event was aimed at drumming up support for Dickerson’s bill, which has stalled in committee. The measure would have the Washington State Liquor Control board sell and regulate cannabis.
Backers say it could raise $440 million in tax revenue per biennium — much-needed money in the face of a $5 billion deficit in the next two-year state budget.
Dickerson wants to build momentum ahead of Thursday’s revenue forecast, which many predict will show the deficit to be even bigger than previously thought.
