This is what happens when you have a solid blue state. Controlling both branches of the legislature and the governor, bills like this can go through.
From the Seattle Times:
OLYMPIA — Civil-liberties groups, medical-marijuana supporters and a smattering of music festivalgoers may have reason to rejoice: The Legislature is considering a proposal that would effectively decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.
A bill proposed by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, would reduce the penalty for possessing marijuana in quantities of 1.4 ounces or less to a civil infraction carrying a $100 fine.
...
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, joked that marijuana was in fact a gateway drug: "My own experience shows that marijuana is. I used to grow my own dope and now I brew my own beer."
Between this and the attempt to pass a civil union bill this year that will give the same exact rights as marriage, I feel like I live in an island of sanity sometimes. For those wondering about the Seattle police chief being named Drug Czar, this should give some insight as to how the drug war works in the Emerald City.
It's a slow movement, but it's one that I definitely support and I don't even smoke.