Washington, D.C., on Verge of Decriminalizing Marijuana Possession

One more vote and
Washington, D.C., residents will see
marijuana possession treated as a minor infraction rather than
a crime.

From Reuters:

The District of Columbia stepped closer to decriminalizing
marijuana on Wednesday when a city council panel approved a measure
that would make smoking a joint in the U.S. capital a violation
comparable to a parking ticket.

Approved unanimously by the city council’s public safety
committee, the bill reduces penalties for possessing less than an
ounce (28 grams) of marijuana to a fine as little as $25.

Eight times more blacks than non-blacks in Washington are
arrested for pot possession, and committee Chairman Tommy Wells
said the measure’s goal was fairness and reducing law enforcement
costs.

“This is a social justice bill that addresses disproportionate
impact,” said Wells, who is among nine candidates for mayor in the
April 1 Democratic primary.

Read more
here.

Of course, because we’re talking about progressives in charge,
the justification is ill-defined “social justice” and not
individual liberty, but it’s better than nothing. I would like to
believe that if all races were equally arrested, they’d still vote
to decriminalize, right? Right?

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