Washington Marijuana Citation Data

Dear Mr. Anderson,

Thank you for your inquiry to the Washington State Patrol. After researching your request, the WSP does not have the records you requested at a statewide level. We do not generally capture citation data for other agencies. We could provide you with information on citations issued by the WSP – based on the types of citations we capture data for. Our agency does capture some statewide data on marijuana DUI blood analysis (from the State Tox Lab). However, we do not have any citation driven data on marijuana possession.

This response completes your request. Please let me know if you have any questions, or we can be of any further assistance, in reference to PD-14-1055-0322.

Sincerely,
Gretchen Dolan, CPRO
Washington State Patrol
Public Records Officer
PO Box 42631
Olympia WA 98504
(360)596-4137 ext. 11137
The Washington State Patrol makes a difference every day, enhancing the safety and security of our state by providing the best in public safety services.

Mr. Anderson,

Thank you for your inquiry to the Washington State Patrol. Pursuant to RCW 42.56.520, this is notification that we have received your public disclosure request (below). We anticipate it may take up to 30 business days from the date of this notification to provide a response. Additional time is required due to the current volume of pending records requests, and to research this request, search for and collect existing responsive records, notify involved parties, and/or prepare records for dissemination.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me in reference to PD-15-1055-0216.

Sincerely,
Gretchen Dolan, CPRO
Washington State Patrol
Public Records Officer
PO Box 42631
Olympia WA 98504
(360)596-4137 ext. 11137
The Washington State Patrol makes a difference every day, enhancing the safety and security of our state by providing the best in public safety services.

Thank you for your inquiry. Your original request, received on October 10, 2014, assigned tracking number PD-14-1055-0322, and requesting: “A copy of all data related to citations for marijuana possession in the state of Washington on the state and local levels. I am specifically seeking records from January 2011 to the date that this request is processed. In addition, I am requesting a copy of any and all reports or studies generated by the state that discuss marijuana citations”, was responded to and completed on October 17, 2014. Attached is a copy of that email advising your office (Mr. Anderson) that we did not have responsive records.

Although your current records request received April 3, 2015, is substantially the same, we are conducting another search to ensure we still don’t have responsive records. We anticipate completion by the time frame indicated below in our April 8th email.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,
Gretchen Dolan, CPRO
Washington State Patrol
Public Records Officer
PO Box 42631
Olympia WA 98504
(360)596-4137 ext. 11137
The Washington State Patrol makes a difference every day, enhancing the safety and security of our state by providing the best in public safety services.

Good Morning Mr. Anderson,

The Washington State Patrol has completed your records request (below). We do not have any record directly responsive to your request. We do not have any way to identify citations issued by WSP personnel specifically for marijuana possession. We do not have a trackable violation code for this infraction. Our Impaired Driving Unit also does not track possession data.

Attached please find a copy of some data and statitstics that have been compiled pertaining to impaired driving involving THC. This data is not specific to possession and was compiled from other sources: Government and Media Relations and the Toxicology Lab. Again, while not specific to possession, we hope you find this information useful.

No information has been redacted or withheld from these records. If you have questions, please contact me in reference to PD-15-1055-0216.

Sincerely,
Gretchen Dolan, CPRO
Washington State Patrol
Public Records Officer
PO Box 42631
Olympia WA 98504
(360)596-4137 ext. 11137

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On April 3, 2015:

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to RCW Ch. 42.56 (Public Records Act), I hereby request the following records:

A copy of all data related to citations for marijuana possession on the state and local levels. I am specifically seeking any statistics related to the total number of arrests and/or citations for offenses related to marijuana as well as the ethnicity, age, sex, and other demographic information of the persons arrested and/or cited, if available. The time frame for which I am seeking records is from January 2011 through December 2014.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not being made for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Evan Anderson

Good Morning Mr. Anderson,

Thank you for your inquiry. Generally speaking, law enforcement use of the term “arrests” relates to any time a citation is issued – whether a civil citation (for things like traffic violations), or a criminal citation (for criminal traffic violations like DUI or non-traffic violations such as assault). Common use of the term “arrests” often evokes an image with citizens of someone being placed in handcuffs and taken to jail. Whether or not someone is placed in handcuffs and/or booked in jail is generally not measured by the term “arrests” in our stats.

If this explanation does not provide you with the answer you seek specifically, can you please clarify which data your question pertains to?

Sincerely,
Gretchen Dolan, CPRO
Washington State Patrol
Public Records Officer
PO Box 42631
Olympia WA 98504
(360)596-4137 ext. 11137
The Washington State Patrol makes a difference every day, enhancing the safety and security of our state by providing the best in public safety services.