Marijuana used for recreational purposes is now legal in Washington D.C., after the city’s government decided to push forward with this move after several months of debate. Adults above the age of 21, may now legally grow up to six marijuana plants, possess up to 2 ounces and use marijuana for personal use.
The sale of marijuana still remains illegal, but the District Council is considering the implementation of a law that would regulate and tax marijuana sales. However it is unclear if any such measures could go into effect before 2016. The official legalization on the government’s “home turf” adds to the marijuana policy that started two years ago, when the states of Colorado and Washington permitted the use for recreational reasons. Furthermore, the new law of recreational marijuana in the state of Alaska, also took effect last week with Oregon set to follow later in 2015.
‘This is a significant milestone in the movement for racial justice, civil liberties, and drug policy reform’, stated Dr. Malik Burnett, D.C. policy manager at the Drug Policy Alliance. ‘The racially-biased enforcement of marijuana laws in the nation’s capital is officially a relic of history.’, he underlined.
As The Washington Post points out, marijuana consumers need to proceed with caution when trying out this new law, as D.C. continues to prohibit the public use and possession on federal land, which includes approximately 20 percent of the District.
Sources: The Washington Post, The Huffington Post
