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February 5, 2014

D.C. Council Votes to Decriminalize Marijuana 
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The Washington, D.C. City Council has advanced a measure to
decriminalize marijuana. The move would scrap criminal penalties for
marijuana possession in favor of a violation equivalent to a parking
ticket. City Councilmember and bill sponsor Tommy Wells said marijuana
laws have led to the disproportionate jailing of African Americans.

Tommy Wells: "We've had a long period of social and racial injustice
related to the war on drugs, especially when it comes to marijuana.
Ninety-one percent of the arrests in D.C. related to small amounts of
marijuana are African Americans. And you can't tell me with six
universities, not to stereotype, that the only people smoking pot are
African American youth."

A final vote on the D.C. pot measure is expected later this month.

 

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