An Update on DC’s Move Toward Legalizing Marijuana

Congressmen who are in the market for medical marijuana can score a couple of ounces just a dozen blocks up North Capitol Street, once plans approved this week by DC’s permitting agencies come to fruition.

The store could be in business just in time for the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Beyond medical marijuana, the political winds here in the nation’s
capital city are heading toward legalization of pot, which would put DC
on a similar course as Colorado and Washington state.

This week
the city issued “certificates of occupancy” for a marijuana cultivation
center on 1840 Fenwick Street, Northeast, east of the US Capitol off of
New York Avenue. The certificate also will allow the Holistic Remedies
dispensary to operate a retail shop on 1334 North Capitol Street.

Both
the cultivation center and the dispensary have to pass more inspections
and certifications by the health department. The company can grow up to
95 plants under the law passed by the DC City Council in 2009.

The
owners hope to complete construction and jump through all of the hoops
by the spring. The city will allow patients suffering from cancer,
HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma to buy marijuana through the
program.

A half-dozen more companies have submitted plans to grow and sell pot.

But
limiting marijuana to patients who can benefit from its ability to ease
nausea and pain is not enough for Paul Zuckerberg. An attorney
specializing in defending marijuana possession cases, he’s become an
advocate for decriminalizing pot in the District.

This week Zuckerberg said he intends to run for an open seat on the DC council in a special election in April.

“If
people want to go with the 12 council members they have up there, then
stick with them” he told the Washington Post. “But change is a wonderful
thing.”

He said there was a “tsunami” coming from the West, and DC should join it.

Running
as a Democrat, Zuckerberg would have a decent chance of winning the
at-large seat left open when Phil Mendelson was elected council chair.
If he adds ethics and education to his platform, he could attract votes
in all eight wards.

Speaking of Mendelson, the new chairman said
there’s a good argument for decriminalizing marijuana, though he added:
“I don’t think it’s the time for the District to be discussing that.”

Perhaps because Congress is likely to be riled up.

That
never stopped council member Marion Barry, who also supports legalizing
pot. That would get him off the hook if he needs pot for medical or
recreational use. David Grosso, who assumes his council seat in January,
also has advocated legalization.

Harry Jaffe