The D.C. city council voted on Tuesday to decriminalize the possession and consumption of small amounts of marijuana.
The new bill, which is expected to be signed by Vincent Gray, decriminalizes the possession, use, and sale of small amounts (one ounce or less) of marijuana, reports The Verge.
If a person is found in possession of an ounce or less, there will be a mere fine of $25 instead of jail time. Smoking in public would still count as a misdemeanor and result in 60 days in jail or up to a $500 fine.
The council’s vote was nearly unanimous, with a 10-1 vote in favor of the decriminalization.
“D.C. will serve as a model for jurisdictions where, for one reason or another, full taxation and legalization is not yet possible,” said Ethan Nadelmann, founder and executive director of the pro-legalization Drug Policy Alliance.
Once signed, the bill will go to Congress and there will be 60 days to accept or reject it. If signed into law, D.C. will become a part of the 17 other states that have thus far decriminalized the recreational use of marijuana.
“This is a victory for social justice and a major step for the nation’s capital,” council member Tommy Wells stated, according to Bloomberg>Bloomberg.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
