Reporters, Twitter users applaud ‘pot’ press release

A blog post about Washington state’s newly passed drug laws that appeared on the Seattle Police Department’s website has gone viral and drawn praise from the media.

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That didn’t deter Jonah Spangenthal-Lee, a reporter turned police department blogger.

On Friday, a few days after voters in Washington state passed a law legalizing marijuana, Spangenthal-Lee published a blog post—which some reporters are calling a press release—on the Seattle Police Department’s website to explain legal marijuana use in the city.

The title of the post: “Marijwhatnow? A Guide to Legal Marijuana Use In Seattle.”

Here’s a pinch from Spangenthal-Lee’s bag of goodies:

“What happens if I get pulled over and I’m sober, but an officer or his K9 buddy smells the ounce of Super Skunk I’ve got in my trunk? Under state law, officers have to develop probable cause to search a closed or locked container. Each case stands on its own, but the smell of pot alone will not be reason to search a vehicle. If officers have information that you’re trafficking, producing or delivering marijuana in violation of state law, they can get a warrant to search your vehicle.

“SPD [Seattle Police Department] seized a bunch of my marijuana before I-502 passed. Can I have it back? No.

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