You can smoke weed anywhere in Washington right now. That's right: Midnight rang in the joy of legal marriage and legal marijuana in the state. So never mind that Washingtonians may still be committing a federal crime (the U.S. State Attorney issued a reminder yesterday that smoking pot is illegal under federal law) — because that, of course, would be very difficult to explain to people who are high. People like these people:

12:01 a.m.:  This happened in front of Hempfest Central (via NBC's Natalie Swaby): 

12:05 a.m.: According to Swaby, the crowd at Hempfest Central grew:

About 50+ people lighting up in front of Hempfest Central #WAMarijuanaLaw twitter.com/NSwabyKing5/st…

— Natalie Swaby (@NSwabyKing5) December 6, 2012

Some time after midnight: We also have some stoners at Seattle's most iconic building (for the full effect, because smoking at the Space Needle makes you feel that much more legal):

And exhale (go Huskies!): 

Sometime early this morning: The real star of weed legalization emerges — a man known as "Professor Gizmo." We know there's pure joy behind his glasses.

Later this morning on CNN: Because photos can only tell you so much, here's Soledad O'Brien interviewing a man four to five times over the legal limit: 

If you are, unlike these people, worried about getting federally prosecuted or are confused about what you're allowed to do in Washington, head on over the police department's insightful Q&A, "Mariwhatnow?" Too long? Don't want to read? Don't have time to read because you're buying tickets to Seattle? Seattle PD stresses that if you are smoking, smoke privately — unlike these people.

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at aabadsantos at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
Alexander Abad-Santos