Marijuana becomes legal in D.

C
After threats, sharp words, pointed fingers and raised voices, possession of
recreational marijuana has finally become legal in D.C as of February 26th.
Back in November 2014, 70 percent of the voters approved Initiative 71 talking of the
legalization of marijuana in the District. Only one precinct was not in favor, losing by only 9
votes. Initiative 71 spoke of possessing small amounts of marijuana and growing some as well.
Council Chairman Paul Mendelson spoke at a press conference saying that their hands were tied
and they had to let it take effect, because the voters chose it this way.
The legalization of marijuana rises a lot of concerns among the Republicans that are
against this decision. Mayor Muriel Bowser believes they have all the legal grounds to move
forward, saying there is nothing to they can do about this matter, since the voters had a final say.
Republicans, on the other side, consider that those in favor of this law counteract, insisting that it
is forbidden and the marijuana should stay illegal.
Republicans Jason Chaffetz sent a letter to Bowser that was also signed by Rep. Mark
Meadows, in which they announced a possible investigation and demanded every name of every
person that participated in any way at the enactment. The letter was also a way of threatening the
District lawmakers with jail, saying they are misguided to believe they act according to the law.
The threat was openly said by Chaffetz in an interview with the Washington Post, where he
explicitly communicated there are consequences.
Mayor Bowser reminded him of the fact that the voters have a saying in all of this haze
and that she has to take into consideration what was decided. She simply took Initiative 71 and
processed the votes, later leaving the board certify the results.
Still regarding the Initiative 71, Rep. Andy Harris came up with the same realization as
his fellow Republicans, claiming that the Mayors work is illegal. He also brought up the name
of the General Attorney Eric H. Holder Jr., saying in his opinion the attorney should take
measures against those who are wrong, invoking the Anti-Deficiency Act. Criminal prosecutions
under the Anti-Deficiency Act are indeed really rare and will most likely not happen. A

spokesman from the Justice Department, Patrick Rodenbush declined any further comments on
the charges against the city matter.
Although all these words were addressed, the Republicans havent said if they plan on
taking legal matters into their hands and follow legal procedures against the Mayor or anyone
that supports the legalization of the marijuana. Later on, Meadows communicated it is unlikely
that they will go to court. He resumed that the problem is not necessarily legal, but mostly about
funding. Back in December the Congress used its authority to prevent the Initiative 71 to take
effect. They spent $1 trillion on a deal that prevented the local government from enacting the
law.
The officials of the city declared that the threats brought by the Republicans should not
be taken into consideration by its citizens.
Eleanor Holmes Norton, the non-voting delegate in the House, was furious regarding this
constant fight. Norton, a Democrat, supports legalization and she sustains that baseless threats
wont do any good to anyone. She and the Mayor didnt consider they had any restrictions,
basing their belief on the fact that the voters wanted marijuana legalized. She also claimed they
are not trying to defy the Congress authority with their actions and that they understand exactly
how much power the Congress holds. The fight with the Congress has stopped the City Council
from following the study of other legal regulations concerning the possession of marijuana.
The law states that every new law has to pass the 30 days congressional review before it
takes effect. The 30 days period has expired and when the clock stroke 12.01 on Thursday,
marijuana became legal in the District of Columbia.
Although it is legal, there are a set of rules one must follow in order to respect the law.
People must never have in possession more than 2 ounces. Pot cannot be smoked in public place
or sold to others. Driving under the influence of marijuana is still illegal. People under 21 cannot
possess any marijuana. The plant can be grown, but only 3 to 6 plants, not more.
There are still a lot of other questions that remain without an answer, especially about
growing these plants and where. Republicans might try to find a way of undoing this and people
are advised to take precautions and respect what the law says.

A recent study shows that 10 more states take into consideration the idea of legalizing
marijuana by 2016 and by 2020 there could be 18 states having recreational marijuana legalized.