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Published in Washington Times online Tuesday, March 4, 2014
The D.C. Council on Tuesday approved legislation to remove criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana in the nation’s capital, joining 17 other states that have some form of decriminalization.
The bill adopted on a 10-1 vote will make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana punishable by a civil fine of $25, yet preserves laws making the public smoking of marijuana a criminal offense.
An initial version of the bill would have also decriminalized public smoking of the drug but council members amended the legislation at the request of Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier, who were worried that it would lead to widespread use in public.
The bill reduces the criminal penalties for marijuana use — up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine — to a punishment of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
However, the bill’s chief sponsor, D.C. Council member Tommy Wells, worries that in its adopted form that racial disparities will persist among those arrested for smoking.
During Tuesday’s hearing on the bill, an amendment was also added that would give prosecutorial authority of any criminal marijuana cases to the D.C. Attorney General rather than letting the U.S. Attorney’s Office handle the cases.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news...al-approval-bill-decriminalizi/#ixzz2v1yUDJVf
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter
The D.C. Council on Tuesday approved legislation to remove criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana in the nation’s capital, joining 17 other states that have some form of decriminalization.
The bill adopted on a 10-1 vote will make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana punishable by a civil fine of $25, yet preserves laws making the public smoking of marijuana a criminal offense.
An initial version of the bill would have also decriminalized public smoking of the drug but council members amended the legislation at the request of Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier, who were worried that it would lead to widespread use in public.
The bill reduces the criminal penalties for marijuana use — up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine — to a punishment of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
However, the bill’s chief sponsor, D.C. Council member Tommy Wells, worries that in its adopted form that racial disparities will persist among those arrested for smoking.
During Tuesday’s hearing on the bill, an amendment was also added that would give prosecutorial authority of any criminal marijuana cases to the D.C. Attorney General rather than letting the U.S. Attorney’s Office handle the cases.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news...al-approval-bill-decriminalizi/#ixzz2v1yUDJVf
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter
