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mahatmakanejeeves

(57,513 posts) Tue Mar 4, 2014, 04:18 PM Mar 2014

D.C. Council Votes to Decriminalize Small Amounts of Marijuana

Source: WRC-TV, channel 4 in DC, and Associated Press

Tuesday, Mar 4, 2014 | Updated 3:10 PM EST

The D.C. Council voted Tuesday in favor of a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

The vote was little more than a formality. The council had already approved decriminalization by an 11-to-1 vote. But before that initial vote, the council watered down the bill by maintaining criminal penalties for smoking pot in public.

The district would join the 17 states that have some form of decriminalization.

Councilmember Tommy Wells, the bill's lead sponsor, says the district will have one of the nation's strongest decriminalization policies because the civil fine for possession will be just $25. However, he is concerned that racial disparities will persist among those arrested for smoking.
....

Copyright Associated Press / NBC4 Washington

Read more: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-to-Give-Final-Approval-to-Pot-Decriminalization-248336691.html

8 replies

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Highlight:

D.C. Council Votes to Decriminalize Small Amounts of Marijuana (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Mar 2014 OP

K and R (nt) bigwillq Mar 2014 #1

Kicking from right over the border. (n/t) SMC22307 Mar 2014 #2

What would happen if Boner were to switch from wine? KamaAina Mar 2014 #3

Washington, D.C., city council passes pot decriminalization vote Judi Lynn Mar 2014 #4

About time. And they have all those cool tunnels that could be lined with greenery. n/t jtuck004 Mar 2014 #5

The Times They Are A Changin Bob Dylan @ the White House Live Sunlei Mar 2014 #6

No one is saying how much pot you can be holding? Less than an ounce? YOHABLO Mar 2014 #7

K&R n/t Feral Child Mar 2014 #8

bigwillq

(72,790 posts)

1. K and R (nt)

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Tue Mar 4, 2014, 04:53 PM

Mar 2014

SMC22307

(8,090 posts)

2. Kicking from right over the border. (n/t)

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Tue Mar 4, 2014, 04:56 PM

Mar 2014

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

3. What would happen if Boner were to switch from wine?

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Tue Mar 4, 2014, 05:12 PM

Mar 2014

Judi Lynn

(160,551 posts)

4. Washington, D.C., city council passes pot decriminalization vote

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Tue Mar 4, 2014, 05:18 PM

Mar 2014

Washington, D.C., city council passes pot decriminalization vote
By Lacey Johnson
WASHINGTON Tue Mar 4, 2014 3:44pm EST

(Reuters) - A measure decriminalizing marijuana in the U.S. capital got final approval from Washington's city council on Tuesday, a move that would make smoking pot a violation comparable to a parking ticket.

The bill, which passed the second of two votes with the support of 10 of the 13 city councilors, will now go to the desk of Democratic Mayor Vincent Gray, who supports the measure.

"It will have a profound impact on the people of the District of Columbia to decriminalize this marijuana," said Councilman David Grosso, adding that he looks forward to the "next step" of taxing and regulating the sale of marijuana.

"I think that should be done expeditiously here in this body and, hopefully, with the support of our mayor."

While marijuana is still illegal under federal law, 15 U.S. states and a handful of cities have removed the threat of arrest for possession of small amounts of the drug. Colorado and Washington state have gone farther and legalized marijuana outright, a step that Rhode Island is also considering.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/04/us-usa-marijuana-districtofcolumbia-idUSBREA2323G20140304?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=401