Did Rep. Andy Harris inadvertently legalize marijuana possession in D.C.? [View all]

[Uncle Joe]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2014/06/25/did-rep-andy-harris-inadvertently-legalize-marijuana-possession-in-d-c/

But District lawyers are now exploring whether he might have actually moved to, in effect, legalize marijuana possession instead.

(snip)

Even if the amendment survives a Senate conference, the decriminalization law converting marijuana possession from a misdemeanor into a $25 civil citation is likely to pass a congressional review period and take effect beforehand, sometime in mid to late July.

If the amendment — which bars the city from spending any funds to “enact or carry out any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties associated with the possession, use, or distribution for recreational use” — then takes effect after the decriminalization statute is officially on the books, the city would be in the odd position of having a decriminalization law that it could not enforce.

(snip)

But the officials familiar with the matter said the amendment could prevent the police department from printing citations, prevent cops from writing and processing them, and prevent the city government from adjudicating them. The upshot is that there might be no penalty for minor marijuana possession, they said.