25 Sep Washington D.C. Will Try to Legalize Marijuana
If the City Council has its way, Washington, D.C. may quickly become the next area of the United States to completely decriminalize marijuana.
This week, Councilman David Grosso (I-At Large) introduced legislation to the D.C. City Council that would eliminate all criminal and civil penalties for small amounts of marijuana possession for consenting adults. The legislation would also provide the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Regulation
Administration with the authority to regulate the production and sale of marijuana in the District.
Grosso’s legislation is part of a chain of progressive marijuana policy initiatives introduced by different member of the Council over the course of this year.
In early July, Councilman Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) introduced legislation that would eliminate criminal penalties and impose a $100 civil fine for adult possession of up to one ounce of marijuana.
According to an April poll, 60% of D.C. voters supported the right to choose by people’s ballot whether or not marijuana should be legal in the District, and 54% said that all drug use should be treated as a public health, and not a criminal, issue.
Grant Smith, policy manager with the Drug Policy Alliance’s Office of National Affairs, which commissioned the poll, said this:
“Ultimately, drug use is most effectively addressed as a health issue instead of as a criminal justice issue – and this means that a person should not be criminalized for possession of any drug in D.C.”
Source: Smell the truth