Posted on 10/31/2013 6:59:23 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
(CNSNews.com) - Decriminalize marijuana possession before legalizing it, says a man who wants to be the next mayor of Washington, D.C.
City Councilman Tommy Wells, a Democrat, has introduced a bill that would fine people a maximum of $100 for possessing less than an ounce of pot in the nation's capital. The city passed a medical marijuana law in 1998, but Congress didn't approve that measure until 2009.
Wells told WMAL-Radio on Tuesday that he's "open to legalization," but he sees "decriminalization" as the first step. He also said he doesn't envision a city full of stoned federal workers:
"Legalization does not mean public smoking of marijuana," Wells said. "It really does start saying, you can do what you want in your own home. But it doesn't mean that you can be publicly smoking pot."
Wells said his bill is geared toward "people making personal decisions."
And he indicated that criminal penalties for marijuana possession fall disproportionately on "a particular segment of our city."
"Ninety percent of all arrests are African-Americans for smoking pot. And we know for a fact, 90 percent of the people that smoke pot are not just African-Americans," Wells said.
Instead of trying to reform the police department, Wells said, "I think decriminalization is the way to do it."
The Washington Post reported that ten of the city's 13 council members now support Well's decriminalization bill, and so does the current mayor, Vincent Gray.
"We've got to give it time to see how Colorado and Washington State -- how they regulate and how they deal with legalization," Wells told WMAL. He said he wants voters to weigh in on the plan, through a referendum.
Nanny State PING!
Would be kind of hard to tell if they were high on pot, imitating Slow Joe or just naturally witless.
They might as well. Everybody there is on drugs all of the time anyway.
But will still criminalize people who have empty shotgun shells. But not talking heads who hold up illegal 30rd. magazines.
beam me up scotty or some like parable from the New Testament
Not sure I understand what you’re referring to .....
A bunch of stupid people who want permission to be stupid, and they will bring their kids to pot fests and start to work on legalizing pedophilia next.
are you logged in yeah you must be or you wouldn’t be able to beam me re: mote your post what is hypocritical
sorry just me being me Matthew 7:5
They don’t need weed - That place is already too whacky.
Hey, if I give you my address will you send me whatever it is you’re on?
Yes, that is EXACTLY what will happen! /sarc
absolutely but apparently what i have isnt as good as the stuff my coworkers g friend just got so maybe so but maybe i could just bypass me to them to you and let you get back to me if they a gree and then i could see if then we could a gree
Thanks for the ping!
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