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  • Marijuana Decriminalization Takes Effect In Nation's Capital

Marijuana Decriminalization Takes Effect In Nation's Capital

Jul 17, 2014

Congress, D.C., decriminalization, District of Columbia, National Mall, possession, Vincent Gray

As of midnight Wednesday, D.C.’s marijuana decriminalization law is officially in effect. The new law — approved by the D.C. Council, signed by Mayor Gray,

[caption id="attachment_7876" align="alignright" width="187"]gray Mayor Vincent Gray[/caption]

and submitted to Congress for a 60-day review — replaces misdemeanor criminal charges for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana with a civil violation, costing the offender $25. Now D.C. has the third-least punitive marijuana laws in the country, behind Colorado and Washington State.

It is important to note that this is only a change in District law, not federal law. Marijuana possession on federal lands, including the National Mall, is still a criminal offense and violators may be arrested and prosecuted. Public use is still illegal as well. Please see our summary of this new law for more information.

Thank you so much to all the individuals and organizations that took part in reforming the previously outdated law. Further reform is still needed, however. If you are a District resident, please contact your council members and urge them to treat marijuana like alcohol.