Staring July 1, Florida residents won’t be able to purchase bongs — but “water” pipes for tobacco use will remain legal, tokeofthetown.com reported.

Republican governor Rick Scott signed the law, which will take effect July 1. Under the new law, anyone who is caught owning or selling a pot pipe will initially be charged with a criminal misdemeanor, but a second offense will result in a felony charge.

Photo courtesy of willybanjo.com

WASHINGTON — Seven members of Washington state’s congressional delegation on Tuesday sent a letter urging the Department of Justice to respect the will of the state’s voters regarding the legalization of marijuana.

The letter was signed by Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and Democratic Reps. Adam Smith, Suzan DelBene, Denny Heck, Derek Kilmer and Jim McDermott.

“As DOJ considers its response to Washington and Colorado laws,” the letter said, “we hope that you will exercise your significant discretionary authority by choosing not to pursue preemption of these laws, or prosecute our residents and state employees acting in compliance with these laws.

“We also urge DOJ to announce its decided course of action as soon as possible to provide legal certainty for our citizens, businesses, and lawmakers,” it said.

The full text of the letter here.

SEATTLE — By Monday’s deadline, key supporters of Initiative 502 weighed in what the exact rules should be for the legal marijuana industry.

Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes says the state needs to relax restrictions to make it fair for everyone to smoke pot. He even wants the state to recruit marijuana growers, distributors and sellers in the black market right now.

By March 2014, the first batch of state regulated pot stores will be open.

“If we allow these people to buy marijuana but don’t give them a place to smoke, then how can we fault them if they break the non-public display and consumption rule,” said Holmes.

Holmes sent a letter to the state Liquor Control Board recommending specific changes to the board’s draft rules. One of the suggestions is “private-use clubs.”

“It’s not just tourism we are worried about; we are worried about our own residents who don’t have the privilege to smoke in the privacy of their own home if they are in public housing or apartments with a smoking ban,” said Holmes.

Speaking of bans, there is a 1,000-foot rule in place restricting retailers from setting up next to where kids gather like schools and parks. But that rule also includes public transit centers. Holmes says the state needs to specifically define what is considered a public transit center and if the definition is too broad — the concern is that retailers will not be able to set up shop at downtown locations.

“We have to make sure this is simply not a rich man’s bill that it is addressing the reality of tourism and social justice consideration,” said Holmes.

When it comes to overcoming the black market, the answer is surprising. Holmes says the state should recruit and work together with people who are now operating underground.

“We want to evaluate them in a case-by-case basis to see if they are the very kind of people we want to bring into the light of full regulation,” said Holmes.

Misdemeanor marijuana convictions will not affect anyone’s chances of doing business with the state. Even felony convictions will be determined on a case-by-case basis. As Washington ventures into uncharted territory, many, even those who support I-502, have a warning going forward.

“Mostly concerned about glamorizing marijuana, to convey the message that it’s not harmless and nobody needs to consider what the risks are and what kind of boundaries we need to use,” said retired UW professor Roger Roffman.

Roffman, working together with the ACLU, also sent suggestions to the board on Monday emphasizing public health and consumer education.

SEATTLE — The stakes are getting higher in the Washington’s legal pot game.

A local entrepreneur is unveiling plans to open a chain of marijuana stores in the state and eventually around the world.

It would be the first of its kind and he brought out a heavy hitter who came to town to help lead the charge: former Mexican President Vicente Fox.

“I’m going to go back home very excited,” said Fox. “This is the solution.”

Fox is in Washington because he thinks the group of marijuana entrepreneurs can help kill the black market in drugs that has caused death and destruction in his country.

“In Mexico, we welcome this initiative because the cost of the war on drugs is becoming unbearable.”

It is a bold initiative sparked by former Microsoft manager Jamen Shively.

Shively wants to be big, like Starbucks or McDonald’s, creating the first retail brand of marijuana in the world. He’ll start with medical marijuana, and is already acquiring dispensaries in Washington and California.

“For the first time in the history of the United States, you will see stores, medical cannabis dispensaries, in more than one state, with the same brand,” said Shively.

Shively said he hopes to open dozens of retail stores as well, when the state begins issuing licenses for them next year.

But the feds may still have something to say about that. The White House still opposes legalization of marijuana.

When Fox was asked what he would say to President Obama, he said it is time for the nation’s leader to adapt to the will of the people.

“All prohibition started because of religious reasons, and we know prohibitions don’t work,” said Fox.  “Not even with the apple in the Garden of Eden, so this is going to change and politicians need to adapt.”

Courtesy LA Times

SEATTLE — A former Microsoft manager said Washington and Colorado are just the first states to legalize pot and he wants to create a national chain of marijuana retail shops.

James Shively is holding a press conference in Seattle this afternoon to discuss his plans.

Former Mexican president Vicente Fox will also be part of that meeting.

Part of Shively’s plan is a proposal for regulating marijuana trade between the U.S. and Mexico.

More on this in our 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. broadcasts.