America
Marijuana use, possession legalised in Washington DC
Washington, Feb 26
Washington DC has become
the latest place in the US to legalise the use and possession of small
amounts of marijuana, media reported Thursday.
The legalisation came into effect since 12 midnight Thursday, The Washington Post reported.
Despite
a last-hour intervention by the Republican chairman of the House
committee that handles DC affairs, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser and DC Council
members Wednesday said they would not back down from implementing the
will of the 70 percent of city voters who approved legalisation in
November 2014.
Nearly two-thirds of DC voters approved Initiative 71 in November.
Under
Initiative 71, people aged 21 or older will be allowed to have two
ounces or less of marijuana, use marijuana on private property and give
one ounce or less to another person as long as no money, goods or
services are exchanged to the person, according to USA Today.
Residents
will also be permitted to cultivate up to six marijuana plants, but
have no more than three mature plants, in their primary home.
Washington
DC joins Alaska, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington state as the only
places in the US that allow the use of the drug for recreational
purposes.