Governor Inslee signed several marijuana-related bills in 2019. Specifically, Senate Bill 5605 facilitates the expungement of low-level marijuana convictions, House Bill 1094 streamlines the medical marijuana approval process, and House Bill 1095 permits qualified patients access to certain cannabis products while on school grounds. (Link)(Link)(Link)

In January 2019, Gov. Inslee announced his intent to provide an expedited process for granting clemency to those with past marijuana-related convictions. Under the proposed plan, those convicted of a marijuana misdemeanor after January 1, 1998 will have their record vacated. It is estimated that 3,500 individuals will be eligible for expungement. (1/4/19) (Link)

During his campaign for the 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination, Gov. Inslee said “It’s time to legalize marijuana nationally.” (Link)

“Friday we launched our Marijuana Justice Initiative, and today I signed the first set of pardons. This effort will help relieve the burden of misdemeanors for marijuana possession and allow people to move on with their lives.” (Link)

Upon announcing his plans to expunge the records of past marijuana offenders, Inslee's office issued the following statement: “For decades, people have faced criminal prosecution for behavior that is no longer considered a crime in Washington,” the Inslee administration stated in a press release. “[F]orgiving these convictions will allow people to move on with their lives without these convictions causing additional burdens on people, their families, their employers and their communities. This is a small step, but one that moves us in the direction of correcting injustices that disproportionately affected communities of color. A successful pardon of a marijuana possession conviction can assist with barriers to housing, employment and education.” (1/4/19) (Link)

"It's a shame that he (US Attorney General Jeff Sessions) has a closed mind, and he's much more attentive to his old ideology than to the new facts," Inslee told Rolling Stone. "The fears that he might have had 30 years ago have not been realized, and we wish he would just open his eyes to the reality of the situation. If he did, I think he would no longer try to fight an old battle that the community and the nation is moving very rapidly forward on."(2/26/18)https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/jeff-sessions-governors-moving-ahead-pot-w517128

Gov. Jay Inslee issued the following statement upon news that the U.S. Department of Justice would announce its decision to rescind the Cole Memorandum that has allowed Washington and other states to implement common-sense marijuana laws:


"If news reports are accurate, today's forthcoming announcement from Attorney General Sessions is the wrong direction for our state. It is also disrespects Washington voters who have chosen a different path for our state. I am especially frustrated that this announcement comes after Sessions has refused offers from Attorney General Ferguson and myself to meet with him to discuss these policies in person, after he has disregarded the input that we and other state leaders have provided to his department." (1/04/18)
https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/statement-inslee-regarding-reports-usdoj-will-rescind-cole-memo

"If you don't sell this product to children, if you keep violent crime away from your business, if you pay your taxes and you don't use this as a front for illicit activity, we're going to be able to move forward," Inslee said. (8/30/14) http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2013/aug/30/feds-wont-sue-stop-marijuana-use-2-states/117424/

Web: https://www.governor.wa.gov/

Phone: 360-902-4111