D.C proposal would allow ounce of weed, 6 plants per household

[lostinblue 1,989]

D.C proposal would allow ounce of weed, 6 plants per household

By Andrea Noble

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The Washington Times

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

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Story Topics

• Social Issues
• Adam Eidinger
• D.C. Council
• Bill Piper
• Drug Policy Alliance

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Activists in Washington, D.C., plan to submit an initiative by week’s end that would put marijuana legalization on the ballot in the nation’s capital in November — making the city one of a handful of jurisdictions poised to ask voters to consider the issue this year.

The proposal that is expected to be submitted to the D.C. Board of Elections would allow residents to legally grow up to six marijuana plants per household and possess and transfer up to an ounce of the drug without penalty.

SEE ALSO: HAGELIN: Marijuana a dangerous drug, not a joking matter

Submission of the ballot language is just the beginning of an arduous process that will require supporters, who have formed a campaign committee and recruited volunteers, to collect thousands of signatures and persuade voters to approve the measure.

Polling last year shows D.C. residents, who 15 years ago overwhelmingly passed a referendum authorizing medical marijuana, support legalization in large numbers.

An April survey conducted by Public Policy Polling gauged support for legalizing the drug at 63 percent.

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Getting the issue on the ballot would put the District in line with Alaska, Oregon and California, where legalization initiatives also are underway.

All three states have defeated previous ballot initiatives on legalization, but with Colorado opening the nation’s first recreational marijuana dispensaries Jan. 1 and Washington set to begin legally selling marijuana this year, activists think the tide could turn on the East Coast as well.

Unlike in Colorado, the D.C. initiative wouldn’t allow shops to sell marijuana in the city. The District’s ballot initiative would ban proposals that require an appropriation of money — a mandate that organizer Adam Eidinger said prevents him from including a regulatory or sales component.

“We’re trying to preserve the consumer’s right to possess it and to use it,” said Mr. Eidinger, who is mounting the D.C. Cannabis Campaign through a group called DCMJ.

Because of the restrictions, the ability to legalize the open sale and regulation of marijuana in the city hinges on passage of a law by the D.C. Council.

But elected officials across the country have been slow to warm to changes in drug policy, making legalization through a ballot initiative a more likely reality than legislation, said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance.

“Generally speaking, the issue has been elected officials are almost always behind the people, especially on drug policy,” Mr. Piper said.

In the case of medical marijuana, seven states decriminalized use through ballot measures before Hawaii became the first state to legislatively approve use of the drug in 2000.

“Medical marijuana, as more initiatives passed, there was more of a national debate and legislators couldn’t ignore it,” Mr. Piper said. “The debate now, because of Colorado and Washington, has broken out and it’s going to be very hard for legislators to ignore it.”

A CNN/ORC International poll released Monday indicated that 55 percent of people surveyed nationally said marijuana should be made legal, with 44 percent opposing.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/7/legal-pot-in-dc-proposal-allows-for-6-plants-per-h/#ixzz2poXqbXIQ

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Why only 6 plants.....Fill your lawn up with plants. You have public parks ... pull out the rose plants and have pot paths. What is the rational behind the 6 plant thing ? This plant will grow about anywhere... Is this a bit silly.... like saying you can only have 6 tomato plants in your garden.?... Or we arrest you and fine you.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

"Marijuana a dangerous drug" ... how?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

"Marijuana a dangerous drug" ... how?

If I had a choice between Pot and Alcohol in society, I would choose pot.

However, i think like anything it needs to be in moderation. Maybe a lazy Sunday Afternoon, Day off etc

I know aguy that use to smoke a lot of weed back in the day

No doubt chronic use does make one a slacker.

Still if it was legal in Ga and my wife would not kill me I would use on occasion, especially on those nights I can't sleep

Since I am already a slacker, I don't see the big deal

[Penny Lane 8,159]

If I had a choice between Pot and Alcohol in society, I would choose pot.

However, i think like anything it needs to be in moderation. Maybe a lazy Sunday Afternoon, Day off etc

I know aguy that use to smoke a lot of weed back in the day

No doubt chronic use does make one a slacker.

Still if it was legal in Ga and my wife would not kill me I would use on occasion, especially on those nights I can't sleep

Since I am already a slacker, I don't see the big deal

I knew plenty of slackers with no motivation in life that never touched pot. And I knew some who did. They both end up in the same place if they don't do anything about it. Nowhere.

Like most things in life, moderation is the key. I have yet to see how marijuana can be considered dangerous, though.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I knew plenty of slackers with no motivation in life that never touched pot. And I knew some who did. They both end up in the same place if they don't do anything about it. Nowhere.

Like most things in life, moderation is the key. I have yet to see how marijuana can be considered dangerous, though.

You can not OD on Pot in it's natural form, in any method I have tried

You will just have to trust me on that

[mota bhai 2,675]

You can even die from drinking too much water. Hyponatremia.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

As for weed being a Gateway drug. I think part of that is society told us how evil it was. Once we discovered it was a lie, other drugs became less taboo.

Funny no one says Liquer or beer is a gateway drug

[Penny Lane 8,159]

As for weed being a Gateway drug. I think part of that is society told us how evil it was. Once we discovered it was a lie, other drugs became less taboo.

Funny no one says Liquer or beer is a gateway drug

Alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous to someone's health than weed. But you are right, society has made the uneducated afraid of a pretty harmless substance.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Back to the question .... Why only 6 plants......So they can arrest you at 7.....Where I live the police are flying every sunday looking for the stuff from the air. in the fall. They will allow you 6 plants but spend tens of thousands of dollars destroying it in the wild?

[GandD 5,966]

Back to the question .... Why only 6 plants......So they can arrest you at 7.....Where I live the police are flying every sunday looking for the stuff from the air. in the fall. They will allow you 6 plants but spend tens of thousands of dollars destroying it in the wild?

If I was to guess, I would assume its because 6 plants have the potential to produce what they consider the minimum amount allowed for an individual. You have to put limits on how much one can have to help limit the distribution capability of an individual. They only want pot being distributed by licensed business owners, kinda like meat, alcohol, and many other things.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I believe that there limitations on the quantities of beer and wine that one is permitted to make for home use too.

[Operator 1,927]

[Peikko 1,575]

I believe that there limitations on the quantities of beer and wine that one is permitted to make for home use too.

Are there?

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

For either, 100 gallons if a single adult over 18, 200 gals if 2 or more adults reside there.

[Darnell 8,479]

Are there?

For making at home, yes, mostly. Varies by state.