Pubdate: Sun, 01 Mar 2015
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2015 The Washington Post Company
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/mUgeOPdZ
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: Reid Wilson
Note: Reid Wilson is the author of Read In, The Post's morning 
tipsheet on politics.

D.C., THE COUNTRY'S CAPITAL FOR POT-SMOKERS

The mind-altering-substance market got a little more crowded in 
Washington this past week when the District joined three states in 
allowing residents to possess and consume marijuana for recreational purposes.

And despite the objections of some congressional Republicans, 
initially led by Rep. Andy Harris (Md.), who's quite keen to tell 
D.C. voters that he knows better than they do, the District is 
actually the best place in America for marijuana aficionados - in 
part because of Harris's efforts to block the will of the voters.

For one thing, District residents can possess more pot than can 
residents of Alaska, Colorado and Washington, the states where it is 
legal. Washingtonians are allowed to grow the same number of 
marijuana plants as residents in Colorado and Alaska (six, three of 
which can be mature). But weed fans in D.C. can possess up to two 
ounces of marijuana for recreational use, twice the amount allowed in 
the three states. When marijuana becomes legal in Oregon in July, 
that state, too, will limit residents to an ounce.

D.C. voters are more enthusiastic about marijuana than those anywhere 
else. The ballot initiative that legalized weed passed in November 
with a whopping 64.9 percent of the vote, higher than the 56.1 
percent in Oregon, 55.7 percent in Washington, 55.3 percent in 
Colorado and 53.2 percent in Alaska.

Now, here's where Harris's recalcitrance is paying off for marijuana 
users: A provision in the "cromnibus" bill, which funded the federal 
government through September, prohibited the District from writing 
rules governing marijuana, which means the city can't levy taxes or 
set up a regulatory scheme like those in Colorado and Washington state.

So while selling marijuana is still illegal, growers won't have to 
pay any taxes on the plants they cultivate. And despite the best 
efforts of law enforcement, the new rules could eventually mean more 
product available on the black market-none of which can be taxed or 
regulated in ways that drive up the price, as in the states where 
marijuana is legal. (D.C. isn't completely without restrictions on 
marijuana use. Just as in other states where it's legal, one can't 
smoke in public, and federal property is off limits.)

The GOP efforts to block marijuana sales have created great 
conditions for dope-smokers: no taxes, a black market flooded with 
product and the ability to grow your own ganja legally. Well done, 
Rep. Harris, you've made Washington the best place in America for pot.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom