Thursday: Far-Reaching Marijuana Decriminalization Law Takes Effect in the Nation's Capital

[Garion_55]

Washington, D.C. – A far-reaching marijuana decriminalization law takes effect in the District of Columbia Thursday that replaces jail time with a $25 fine for the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana, ending a year-long effort in the nation’s capital to reduce severe racial disparities in marijuana law enforcement by D.C. police officers. The “Marijuana Possession Decriminalization Amendment Act of 2014” takes effect tomorrow despite an ongoing Republican-led effort in Congress to block D.C. officials from implementing the law.

“We are hopeful that marijuana decriminalization will reduce excessive racial disparities in the enforcement of D.C.’s marijuana laws,” said Grant Smith, deputy director of national affairs with the Drug Policy Alliance. “While marijuana decriminalization is undeniable progress, the real solution is to join states like Colorado and Washington and legalize marijuana. Thankfully, D.C. voters are going to have that opportunity in November.”

http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/2014/07/thursday-far-reaching-marijuana-decriminalization-law-takes-effect-nations-capital

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. And in November, DC residents will vote on marijuana legalization.

A legalization initiative needed 22,000 signatures; they handed in 58,000.

The initiative only legalizes cultivation and possession.

But a tax and regulate bill for retail marijuana sales is already before the DC council.

[Garion_55]

2. Live Pot prohibition debate going on right now online...

http://www.fee.org/seminars/page/is-legalizing-marijuana-a-responsible-public-policy

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. House Republicans are trying to block this, but the president has weighed in.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2014/jul/15/white_house_weighs_dc_marijuana

<snip>

And now, the effort to block the District from implementing decrim -- or any other marijuana reforms -- has caught the attention of the White House, which yesterday slammed it in no uncertain terms.

"The Administration strongly opposes the language in the bill preventing the District from using its own local funds to carry out locally-passed marijuana policies, which again undermines the principles of States' rights and of District home rule," the White House said in a statement of administration policy on the Financial Services and General Government Administration Act of 2015, which contains appropriations for DC. "Furthermore, the language poses legal challenges to the Metropolitan Police Department's enforcement of all marijuana laws currently in force in the District."

(The statement of administration policy also criticized Congress for including a ban on the funding of needle exchanges in the District, as well as language restricting the District's ability to provide abortion services.)

"It is great to see the White House accepting that a majority of Americans want marijuana law reform and defending the right of DC and states to set their own marijuana policy," said Bill Piper, DPA director of national affairs. "The tide has clearly shifted against the failed war on drugs and it's only a matter of time before federal law is changed."

<snip>