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Cops Explain New Pot Law. On Doritos. At Hempfest.

by Jenny Hollander

We're moving to Seattle.

Cops in Seattle have come up with a creative way to inform marijuana users about the state's groundbreaking I-502 law, which was passed last Election Day and allows everyone to own an ounce or less of recreational pot. They're summarizing the new law with a friendly little sticker — which they'll put on bags of Doritos. Which they'll then distribute freely.

At Hempfest.

Hempfest, if you didn't gauge from the name, is a three-day festival which self-describes its mission as "advancing the public image of the cannabis advocate, or enthusiast, through example." the festival used to be about advocating for the legalization of recreational marijuana, but now that that's happened, it's more of an arts fair and joyful celebration.

To each her own munchies, but we'll assume that free Doritos will not be unwelcome at Hempfest. Said the Seattle Police Department, who brainstormed the move:

Distributing salty snacks at a festival celebrating hemp, I think, is deliberately ironic enough that people will accept them in good humor. We want to make sure people learn the rules and that they respect the vote.

A Seattle sergeant, Sean Whitcomb, will be speaking about the new rules at the festival. The cops only provided 1,000 packets of Doritos — the festival is expected to receive 200,000 people this year — but Whitcomb is confident that word will get out. "Not everybody will get a bag," he admitted, "but hopefully people will talk about what’s allowed and what’s not.”

The guide atop the Doritos is titled "Marijwhatnow?," and informs users (and eaters) that, although using marijuana is now legal, there are still firm rules regarding its distribution and use.

Over in Colorado, which joined Washington in legalizing recreational use Nov. 6, cops are struggling to figure out what to do with pot-sniffing K-9 dogs, who have been trained to sense when any amount of marijuana is present. Do they un-train? Re-train? Get new dogs?! "There are so many unanswered questions," noted an officer in Colorado Springs.