SEATTLE - Protesters outside the King County Jail say non-violent drug offenders should be home this Christmas.
Vivian McPeak organized the pro-marijuana vigil.
"Hopefully it lets them know that they're not languishing in there without attention,” said McPeak.
The past nine years on Christmas day, 5th Avenue and James Street in Seattle has been at the crossroads of marijuana legalization controversy.
Protestors held signs and waved down traffic. They say those staring down from county jail cells serving time for non-violent marijuana offenses should be with family.
“We just think that otherwise law abiding American should find alternatives to incarceration for marijuana use," said McPeak.
The vigil wasn't without a protest of its own. Anti-drug advocates in Seattle say marijuana use has left them with an empty seat at their dinner table this Christmas.
"A very dear member of our family, who's not present at Christmas for the sole reason that this individual choose to use," said Dee Tezelli.
Tezelli and Steve Danishek live on the Seattle waterfront. They say marijuana abuse divides their family and the annual Hempfest disrupts their neighborhood.
There's little sympathy for those spending the holiday behind bars.
"These broke the law, they knew the law, they're in jail. I'm sorry that's just a choice they made," said Danishek.
Both sides acknowledge the profile of legalization and decriminalization efforts has risen just in the past year. There's pending state legislation reducing penalties for marijuana possession.
“We believe very strongly that we're in the last decade of marijuana criminalization," said McPeak.
As protestors held signs, anti-drug leaders say they’ll hold tighter to their cause.
"The future of marijuana will have to be dealt with," said Tezelli.
Currently Washington state law allows people with a prescription from their physicians to use marijuana medicinal purposes.
