US

DC Council Will Submit To Congress On Pot Law, Infuriating Activists

Mayor Muriel Bowser's announcement about intersection improvements in Ward 8. (Credit: Street Sense | Photo by Matailong Du/Flickr, no changes made) https://www.flickr.com/photos/street_sense/16588758700/

The D.C. Council is expected to ban private marijuana bars and clubs Tuesday, in a reversal of their previous position that activists see as a capitulation to Republicans in Congress.

The Council unanimously voted in favor of a task force to study the effects of legalizing public smoking in private businesses in February, signaling their support of easing marijuana restrictions. The move showed the D.C. Council was ready to challenge House Republicans, who are currently preventing the D.C. government from taxing or regulating the substance.

But the Council flipped their decision last week, voting 7-6 in favor of permanently banning pot clubs, despite the ongoing task force study. Tuesday’s final vote on the measure coincides with a public discussion on the task force’s preliminary findings, reports Washington City Paper.

Activists say it’s a slap in the face to voters for the Council to crack down with a permanent ban, just two months after approving the task force. (RELATED: DC Council Considers Marijuana Clubs)

“What is incredibly insulting about this vote is that it is scheduled to take place hours before the Task Force’s first Town Hall Meeting on communal use,” DCMJ, a marijuana advocacy group said in a statement Friday. “Instead of waiting to hear the public’s input, Phil Mendelson is essentially saying ‘To hell with what the public thinks, the D.C. Council knows what is best!'”

D.C. Council members are worried about skirting Congress however, which is currently tying the D.C. government’s hands in terms of controlling legal marijuana use. After the ballot initiative passed, the House of Representatives, which governs the District, essentially banned the city from taxing or regulating marijuana in a budget measure. For all practical purposes, the measure prevents the local District government from expanding legalization outside personal home consumption. (RELATED: DC’s Legalized Weed Is One-Year Old, And Crime Has Cratered)

Council members do not want to face blow-back from Congress, but advocates say it sends the wrong message given the D.C. government’s renewed push for statehood.

“What’s really disturbing — it’s so ironic it’s happening around D.C. Emancipation Day, which is all about autonomy and home rule — is that three days after we’re celebrating, the Council is voting to give away our sovereignty to Congress on this,” Kate Bell of the Marijuana Policy Project told Washington City Paper.

Tuesday’s vote could spark fireworks between marijuana activists and the D.C. Council. Citizens are criticizing Council members who talk about criminal justice reform, yet oppose efforts to ease legal restrictions and reduce incarcerations for non-violent offenses.

“We’ve heard grumblings from a couple cannabis activists that they’ll have a smoke-in right in the DC Council chambers if they pass the permanent ban on Tuesday,” said the DCMJ press release. “Since they have no legal place to consume cannabis, they said they might as well light up in the Council chambers to make the point that adults deserve places to consume cannabis away from children or outside on the sidewalk, where they’d risk arrest.”

Follow Steve on Twitter