D.C. lawmakers to vote on bill aiming to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana

On Wednesday, District of Columbia lawmakers will vote on a bill that aims to decriminalize those who are in possession of marijuana. If the bill is passed, those who are found in possession of one ounce of marijuana or less would pay a fine and have it confiscated instead of criminal penalties such as jail time.

D.C. law currently states that those carrying any quantity of pot could face up to six months behind bars.

According to The AP, the bill is being voted on by the D.C. Council's public safety committee, which is chaired by councilmember Tommy Wells.

Wells agrees there needs to be a change in penalties, noting there are "undeniable racial disparities" in arrests for those in possession of the drug.

As we previously reported, a new poll indicates that support for the legalization of recreational use of marijuana has soared in the United States.

The poll, released last Monday, shows 55 percent of Americans are in support of it, opposed to the 16 percent that supported it back in 1987.

image: Wikimedia Commons

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