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 The U.S. capital joined Washington state, Alaska and Colorado in
making marijuana lawful for recreational use, reflecting a rapidly
shifting legal landscape for the drug. It remains illegal under
federal law.
Initiative 71, a ballot measure legalizing marijuana possession and
approved by 65 percent of District of Columbia voters in November,
took effect at 12:01 a.m. EST. Sale of marijuana is still
prohibited.
Mayor Muriel Bowser and other city officials vowed on Wednesday that
legalization would go ahead despite warnings from Republicans on the
House of Representatives Oversight Committee that the move was
illegal.
In a letter to Bowser, committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz of Utah and
Mark Meadows of North Carolina, head of a committee subpanel, said a
December spending bill had barred the District of Columbia from
spending any funds to make pot legal or lessen penalties. Congress
has oversight over the District of Columbia.
Bowser contends that Initiative 71 was officially certified before
the spending ban. A congressional review period ran out on
Wednesday.
The law allows adults to possess up to 2 ounces (56 grams) of
marijuana and to grow six plants, three of them mature. Sales are
barred but transfers of up to 1 ounce (26 grams) is legal.
Bongs, pipes and other paraphernalia are legal but public smoking is
not. Pot is barred in about 20 percent of the district that is
federal land.
Congressional opposition has kept District of Columbia lawmakers
from writing rules on how marijuana could be sold, regulated and
taxed.
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Asked at a news conference if she would be up at 12:01 a.m., Bowser
said: "No, absolutely not."
But Adam Eidinger, a onetime owner of a pot paraphernalia shop who
spearheaded Initiative 71, said he would enjoy a celebratory smoke
at home with friends shortly after midnight.
"I'm very pleased that the mayor is standing up for the voters and
democracy right now," he told Reuters. Eidinger said there were no
plans for a public lighting-up celebration, given restrictions of
the new law.
Oregon voters approved a similar measure in November, but marijuana
does not become lawful until July.
The District of Columbia already has one of the lightest U.S.
penalties for pot possession.
(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)
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