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Hundreds of people have smoked joints under Seattle's Space Needle as Washington became the first US state to legalise recreational marijuana use.
Marijuana advocates have rejoiced by lighting joints under Seattle's iconic Space Needle as Washington became the first state in the US where it is legal to smoke pot for recreational purposes.
Washington had been among 20 US states to allow the uses of marijuana for physician-approved medicinal purposes.
But the implementation of the initiative passed by voters in the November 6 general election marked a first in the nation. Use of marijuana for any purpose is still prohibited under federal law.
Local police were on the scene of the Seattle smoke-in but just looked on as hundreds of people lit up pungent marijuana pipes and joints at the stroke of midnight.
Federal authorities had issued a warning that the pot remained a violation of federal law but there were no federal agents anywhere in sight.
Under the new law recreational smoking is permitted indoors, but remains illegal in public spaces.
Seattle police spokesman Jonah Spangenthal wrote on a blog that police would grant users a "generous grace period" during which it would merely issue warnings to those smoking outside.
"Ever since I've lived here and I've lived here for 21 years, I have never seen so many happy people in Seattle," one participant told ABC News.
"Why should we have to hide it, why should we have to be criminal about something that grows out of the ground?" said another.
A voter approved law legalising same sex marriage also came into force on Thursday, with some 300 licences issued to gay couples in the first hours after the law went into effect at midnight.
Supporters of gay marriage were equally jubilant about their new law with many lining up for hours to be among the first to get same sex marriage licences at midnight.
Because the state has a three-day waiting period, the earliest that weddings can take place is Sunday.
Washington was one of three states, along with Maine and Maryland, to approve same-sex marriage in the November elections.
They joined New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia that have previously enacted laws or issued court rulings permitting same-sex marriage.
Marijuana advocates have rejoiced by lighting joints under Seattle's iconic Space Needle as Washington became the first state in the US where it is legal to smoke pot for recreational purposes.
Washington had been among 20 US states to allow the uses of marijuana for physician-approved medicinal purposes.
But the implementation of the initiative passed by voters in the November 6 general election marked a first in the nation. Use of marijuana for any purpose is still prohibited under federal law.
Local police were on the scene of the Seattle smoke-in but just looked on as hundreds of people lit up pungent marijuana pipes and joints at the stroke of midnight.
Federal authorities had issued a warning that the pot remained a violation of federal law but there were no federal agents anywhere in sight.
Under the new law recreational smoking is permitted indoors, but remains illegal in public spaces.
Seattle police spokesman Jonah Spangenthal wrote on a blog that police would grant users a "generous grace period" during which it would merely issue warnings to those smoking outside.
"Ever since I've lived here and I've lived here for 21 years, I have never seen so many happy people in Seattle," one participant told ABC News.
"Why should we have to hide it, why should we have to be criminal about something that grows out of the ground?" said another.
A voter approved law legalising same sex marriage also came into force on Thursday, with some 300 licences issued to gay couples in the first hours after the law went into effect at midnight.
Supporters of gay marriage were equally jubilant about their new law with many lining up for hours to be among the first to get same sex marriage licences at midnight.
Because the state has a three-day waiting period, the earliest that weddings can take place is Sunday.
Washington was one of three states, along with Maine and Maryland, to approve same-sex marriage in the November elections.
They joined New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia that have previously enacted laws or issued court rulings permitting same-sex marriage.
