cannabisnews.com: Marijuana by the Washington Monument
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Marijuana by the Washington Monument
Posted by CN Staff on April 01, 2014 at 14:42:43 PT
By Juliet Lapidos
Source: New York Times
Washington, D.C. -- You may soon be able to gaze at the Washington Monument with marijuana in your pocket, risking nothing more than a small fine.The District of Columbia mayor, Vincent Gray, on Monday signed a bill decriminalizing possession of the drug up to one ounce. Formerly possession was a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail and a $1000 fine; if the new law passes Congressional review, D.C. will treat possession as a civil offense subject to a $25 fine—less than most parking tickets (and far less than an ounce of weed)—and forfeiture of your marijuana.
D.C. is not really breaking new ground here: Sixteen states have passed laws decriminalizing possession, treating it like a traffic violation. (That list includes Colorado, where it is now legal to sell, buy and consume marijuana).But $25 is the lowest fine in the decriminalized-land, and D.C. is a significant “get” for those who either want to reduce penalties nationwide, or fully legalize the drug.It’s symbolically important for the obvious reason that D.C. is the seat of the federal government and the various law enforcement agencies that have been waging “war” on the drug for decades.And it’s practically important because that war has been particularly destructive in D.C. The American Civil Liberties Union reported in 2013 that D.C. led the nation in marijuana arrests, and that black residents were eight times more likely to be arrested for possession than white residents despite roughly equal rates of use.Congress has 60 work days to review D.C.’s new measure, which actually could mean several months since the clock only ticks if either the House or Senate is in session.D.C. should have the right to set policy on this matter without interference from Congress. If federal lawmakers don’t want to affirm the measure, they can just do nothing and let it take effect through inaction.Source: New York Times (NY)Author: Juliet LapidosPublished: April 1, 2014Copyright: 2014 The New York Times CompanyContact: letters nytimes.comWebsite: http://www.nytimes.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/Wvog5iTxCannabisNews  -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on April 02, 2014 at 09:39:12 PT
The GCW  Comment 3
That's good news. Even in states that don't have medical? That's good.Abuse of people is slowing down. I'm thankful.
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on April 02, 2014 at 05:33:29 PT
Cops get orders from the Supremes
US AR: Wilmot loses Supreme Court pot casehttp://www.yumasun.com/news/wilmot-loses-supreme-court-pot-case/article_2cc6d33a-b960-11e3-95b1-0017a43b2370.htmlPHOENIX – Cops take your pot?They’ve got to give it back if you’ve got a medical marijuana card – even one from another state.Without comment the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to disturb state court rulings that said medical marijuana patients whose drugs are taken by police are entitled to get them back.Cont.
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Comment #2 posted by Matthew58 on April 02, 2014 at 01:56:32 PT:
Do-nothing Congress?
Oh, but our usual do-nothing congress will just HAVE to fiddle with this one! They can't be seen as being compliant!
Why, what would the rest of the civilized world think? HAH!
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Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on April 01, 2014 at 16:09:20 PT
Thanks, Juliet Lapidos!
That's a good one!Leave it, to a do-nothing Congress... ha, ha!
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