TIME FOR THE POT TALK?

POULSBO - For Paul Bellesen, marijuana legalization isn't a clear cut
question.

"The verdict is out on it," said Bellesen, 50, of Poulsbo. "I can see
where legalizing would get rid of some of the crime, but it's a
complicated question."

Still, Bellesen leans against completely abandoning the
generations-old drug policy.

"I just want to know more information about the pros and cons," he
said of a Statehouse proposal to legalize marijuana co-sponsored by
state Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo. "I'm probably against it at
this point in time."

Bellesen is not alone. The measure Appleton supports is not likely to
get a floor vote, not to mention clear the full Legislature. Even if
it were approved by state officials, federal law categorizes marijuana
with heroin and cocaine, substances which have no legitimate use. She
supports the measure because she wants to start a public discussion.

"It's time we take a long, hard look at it," Appleton said. "I think
people are finally coming to the realization that maybe we were wrong.
It takes a long time to get there."

Although the legalization bill has drawn interest, Appleton has
supported similar proposals before. Last session she sponsored a
measure to decriminalize marijuana, making possession a civil
infraction. In Washington, possession of 40 grams or less is a
misdemeanor. But since the story broke this week, she said her office
has fielded several calls from constituents with 90 percent in favor.

"That makes me feel very heartened," she said, acknowledging it is an
unpopular political position. "My feeling is you do what is right and
hopefully people agree with you. If they don't, they don't."

Appleton graduated from high school in 1960 and said she tried
marijuana when she was "college-aged."

"I think it's something you grow out of," she said, adding with a
laugh, "I don't think you can classify me as a pot head."

Marijuana is the most used illicit drug in the U.S. The growing
industry is estimated to generate billions of dollars. About a third
of all college students reported using it in 2007, with the same
number of high school students reporting use in 2008, according to
U.S. Department of Justice statistics. In 2007, about 7 percent of
Americans 26 and older reported using marijuana.

On top of that, about 46 percent of all Americans reported in 2007
illicit drug use at least once in their lifetime.

If it is commonly used, if billions of dollars are changing hands, if
it isn't as harmful as the public has been led to believe and a
handful of otherwise law-abiding people are being prosecuted compared
to the many who get away with it, marijuana should be legalized,
Appleton said.

"Why aren't we regulating and taxing it?"

Although some of Appleton's constituents are supportive, others are
ambivalent, like Connie Sewell of Poulsbo.

"I'm concerned that the legalization may send the message to young
people that it may be OK to do stronger, more addictive drugs," said
Sewell, 50. "I don't know if it's proven that it'll generate income,
but a lot of tax dollars are spent on preventing this cash crop. We're
spending way too much energy on the illegal aspect of it."

Others think legalization would exacerbate what isn't a youthful rite
of passage but a severe social problem.

Although Tyler Rencher of Poulsbo is in the statistical group most
likely to use marijuana, he thinks legalization would harm more people
than marijuana prohibition.

"Personally, I'm totally against it," said Rencher, 18. "That's an
extremely addictive drug that is easily abused."

Margaret Hall, 74, of Poulsbo, supports marijuana reform for medical
purposes, which is legal in Washington state but technically a
violation of federal law.

"Substance abuse is a big problem in our society," she said, adding
that she considers alcohol a potent and dangerous drug. "Maybe we need
to take another look at what we criminalize."