Congressional approval of D.C. marijuana bill would allow lawmakers to light up
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/05/congressional-approval-of-d-c-marijuana-bill-would-allow-lawmakers-to-light-up/
Congressional approval of D.C. marijuana bill would allow lawmakers to light up
By Tom Boggioni
Saturday, April 5, 2014 18:32 EDT
A recently passed D.C. bill decriminalizing marijuana must now pass through a GOP-controlled committee before going into effect, allowing the public and politicians alike to light up without facing criminal charges.
The bill, signed by D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray (D), now goes before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee headed by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA.), and the Government Operations sub-panel, led by Rep. John Mica (R-FL.), according to The Hill.
Both panels will review the law when Congress returns from their two-week spring recess.
Under the new law, smoking marijuana in public would remain a jailable criminal offense, but carrying small amounts of the herb or smoking it in the privacy of a home would only be subject to a $25 fine with no criminal charges filed.