D.C. legalizes pot despite warnings from Congress

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Ignoring the warnings from Congress, D.C. leaders legalized possession of marijuana for recreational purposes on Thursday. The new law took effect at 12:01 a.m., despite last-minute maneuvers by Republican leaders in Congress. Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser said it was her responsibility to implement the initiative city voters approved overwhelmingly in November. Possession of up to two ounces of pot for use at home is now legal. People are also authorized to grow up to three mature plants at a time. Smoking marijuana in public places remains illegal, as does buying or selling the drug. The District’s initiative, endorsed by sixty-five percent of the voters in November, only addressed personal possession, not taxation or regulation. District leaders acknowledged the fact that Congress made an effort to block efforts to implement a legal marijuana market. But now they suspect that Congress acted too late to stop legalization for private use. Representative Jason Chaffetz, (R-Utah) who chairs the House Oversight Committee, encouraged Bowser (in a letter late Tuesday) to reconsider. He said that the mayor and other district employees could face prison time for violating federal law. It would be up to the Justice Department, not Congress, to prosecute District officials, and that scenario is highly improbable. However, Congress could take legal action against the city, and House Republicans could use threats to pull federal funding for city programs as a retaliation.

 

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