By Noelle Skodzinski
It's difficult to fault the D.C. Council on this, with all the work they've done to move the will of D.C. voters forward when it comes to marijuana legalization, and even holding hearings (or "forums") on the possibility of regulating marijuana like alcohol. So, if they are now pushing to ban private marijuana clubs, there may not be much kick-back. (Although, if you want to get into a semantic argument, how is a "private" club actually "public"?)
"The D.C. Council will take up emergency legislation on Tuesday that defines private clubs as 'public places' Â under the city's new marijuana law," reports AP/The Daily Journal. "The legislation is meant to close a potential loophole that could allow private clubs to charge a membership fee and host pot parties."
Voters in the District of Columbia voted, in November 2014, "overwhelmingly to pass Ballot Initiative 71, which legalizes possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana for personal use (among adults ages 21 and over), as well as the ability to grow up to six marijuana plants (3 mature/flowering). The initiative also legalizes the “gifting” of marijuana from one adult to another (but not the sale of marijuana), and permits the use or sale of drug paraphernalia for marijuana possession, consumption or growth," reported Cannabis Business Times.
Initiative 71 took effect last week, after the Congressional review period expired. Controversy has surrounded the new law, however, with the GOP warning D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser against allowing the legislation to move forward and mentioning such actions could result in time in prison. Read more about the situation here.
