The law makes it clear that you can’t carry marijuana on any federal property. In DC, the federal government owns a bewildering array of property. Walking from my house to the Metro stop, I’d have to go out of my way NOT to walk on federal property (Grant Circle).
What do you care about that ?
Although I don’t use it, I think Marijuana should be legalized and treated like alcohol.
I also think the DC government should be closed in favor of a private sector municipal operations experiment. They could show a profit within two years.
Why do you think we should do that and what is the basis for such an action in the Constitution? I’d also be interested in your explanation for why DC residents don’t have voting rights in congress.
If I may make a couple of observations; I’ve noticed that people who are opposed to Washingtonians having representation in congress propose all kinds of whacky work arounds instead of just allowing the residents of DC to be treatred like every other US citizen. I’ve also noticed that when these people talk about DC, they use languange that implies that DC residents are getting uppity when they try to govern themselves.
DC is still perceived as a black city and the willingness to deny them basic rights comes from a place of racism, in my opinion, and is not rooted in a strong understanding of the legal issue related to DC self rule.
Serious question: What is the mindset of people who write these laws and vote to legalize it for use, but not for sale, for use in public, for distribution, etc.? Whoever’s making these laws are, I assume, somewhat progressive. But why all the restrictions? Why not just make one law that says weed is legal, you can smoke it wherever you can smoke a cigarette and sell and possess as much of it as you want?
The intent of the law is to end the practice of arresting young people for marijuana laws and to free up police resources to pursue more serious crimes. Tommy Wells, one of the proponents of the law felt that too many young men, especially black men, had their lives disrupted by getting arrested for marijuana possession. http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/03/d-c-marijuana-legislation-decriminalization-passes-ten-to-one-100787.html