Protesters against Washington’s I-502 ballot measure attempted to shout down travel writer Rick Steves at a “Yes on I-502″ event today at the Washington State Capitol building. As many of you who have been following I-502 can surmise, the protesters were also pro-marijuana activists who are making a lot of noise about their displeasure with the measure.

The Washington State Patrol escorted about “four or five” protesters outside the building after things got tense between the two sides on the hotly contested ballot issue, Capt. Travis Matheson said later. Matheson said it was one thing to hold up signs against I-502 or to “engage in dialogue,” but the pro-502 forces had a permit and a right to hold their event, which drew about 60 people on both sides of the issue.

Standing in the Rotunda after rained scuttled an outdoor rally plan, Steves tried to explain his position in favor of I-502. For the most part, his comments were drowned out by the shouting in the stone-walled building that is known for crazy echoes.

When asked about why he and others needed to interrupt the other side’s speakers, medical marijuana dispensary owner and I-502 opponent Steve Mohr said he got “carried away in the moment.”

For his part, Steves said I-502 is a civil liberties issue. “That’s what’s in it for me. I want a society that doesn’t have a wrong-minded prohibition based on reefer madness propaganda and a bunch of lies …” Steves said. “Forty-thousand people have died south of our border you could say to a great extent because marijuana is illegal in the United States. I care about that.”

Washington voters will decide on I-502 on November 6th.

- Joe Klare

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