2014 Washington, D.C., Initiative 71

In 2010, DC-based headshop Capitol Hemp was one of the largest contributors to the failed Proposition 19, which would have legalized cannabis in California.{{cite web |author=Aaron Houston |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/budding-prospects-youth-activists-push-marijuana-reform/ |title=Budding Prospects: Youth Activists Push Marijuana Reform |publisher=The Nation |date=2010-12-09 |access-date=2017-05-22 |archive-date=2016-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421130914/http://www.thenation.com/article/budding-prospects-youth-activists-push-marijuana-reform/ |url-status=dead }} The following year in 2011, Capitol Hemp was raided by the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department for allegedly selling paraphernalia.{{cite web|author=Stephanie Meyer|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/blog/13064386/d-c-police-raid-capitol-hemp-in-adams-morgan-chinatown|title=D.C. Police Raid Capitol Hemp in Adams Morgan, Chinatown |publisher=Washington City Paper |date=2011-10-27 |access-date=2017-05-22}} As required in a deferred prosecution agreement with U.S. Attorneys,{{cite web|author=Martin Austermuhle|url=http://dcist.com/2012/04/as_part_of_plea_deal_capitol_hemp_t.php|title=Smoked Out: As Part of Agreement With Prosecutors, Capitol Hemp to Close Stores|publisher=DCist|date=2012-04-02|access-date=2017-05-22|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626133506/http://dcist.com/2012/04/as_part_of_plea_deal_capitol_hemp_t.php|archive-date=2013-06-26}} owners Adam Eidinger and Alan Amsterdam were forced to shut down the stores in September 2012{{cite news|author=Mike DeBonis|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/blog/13064386/d-c-police-raid-capitol-hemp-in-adams-morgan-chinatown|title=Capitol Hemp in D.C. closes, after police raid in Oct. seized smoking devices |newspaper=Washington Post |date=2012-09-12 |access-date=2017-05-22}} and decided to start the process to change the law.{{cite news|author=Clinton Yates |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/03/03/from-drug-busts-to-cannabis-conventions-d-c-s-relationship-with-weed-takes-a-leap/ |title=From drug busts to cannabis conventions, D.C.'s relationship with weed takes a leap |newspaper=Washington Post |date=2015-03-03 |access-date=2017-05-22}}

In early 2013, local activists Adam Eidinger, Nikolas Schiller, and Alan Amsterdam formed a skeleton organization "DCMJ" to advocate decriminalization of marijuana in the District.{{cite news|author=Mike DeBonis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2013/04/17/marijuana-policy-groups-kick-off-d-c-legalization-campaign-with-poll/ |title=Marijuana policy groups kick off D.C. legalization campaign with poll |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2013-04-17 |access-date=2016-11-07}}{{cite news|author=Most Read |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-dc-councils-marijuana-club-ban-inadvertently-creates-the-smokeasy/2016/01/11/c3b2ab34-b64d-11e5-8abc-d09392edc612_story.html |title=The D.C. Council's marijuana club ban inadvertently creates the 'smokeasy' |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2016-11-07}} After seeing no movement from the Council of the District of Columbia, Eidinger submitted initial paperwork for a decriminalization ballot initiative, which was rejected by the Board of Election in September 2013 on technical budgetary grounds.{{cite web|last=Segraves |first=Mark |url=http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Activists-to-Submit-New-Marijuana-Legalization-Proposal-222414981.html |title=Activists to Submit New Marijuana Legalization Proposal | NBC4 Washington |publisher=Nbcwashington.com |date=2013-09-04 |access-date=2016-11-07}} The following month DCMJ solicited online feedback {{cite web|url=http://dcmj.org/draft-ballot-initiative-please-leave-feedback/ |title=Draft Ballot Initiative - Please Leave Feedback! |publisher=DCMJ |date=2013-10-17 |access-date=2016-11-07}} and resubmitted a second version, now strengthened to call for full legalization of marijuana.{{cite news|author=Mike DeBonis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/proposed-dc-marijuana-initiative-to-be-reworked-to-address-ags-objections/2013/09/04/a47fd92e-1561-11e3-a2ec-b47e45e6f8ef_story.html |title=The Washington Post |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2013-09-04 |access-date=2016-11-07}} In an interview with the Washington Post, Eidinger attributed his inspiration to legalize marijuana to his experiences in the 2011 police raids on his Capitol Hemp retail store, which was forced into closure by the city.{{cite news|last=Stein |first=Perry |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/02/24/top-d-c-pot-activist-plans-to-reopen-capitol-hemp-in-adams-morgan/ |title=Top D.C. pot activist plans to reopen Capitol Hemp in Adams Morgan |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2015-02-24 |access-date=2016-11-07}}

On January 10, 2014, the DC Cannabis Campaign submitted the final version of the ballot initiative to the District of Columbia Board of Elections. Hearings were held in February and March, and on April 4, 2014, the board finalized the ballot initiative language.{{cite web |url=http://dcregs.dc.gov/Gateway/NoticeHome.aspx?NoticeID=4827610 |title=Notice ID 4827610: Elections, Board of – Formulation of the short title, summary statement, and legislative text for Initiative No. 71, the "Legalization of Possession of Marijuana for Personal Use Act of 2014.", DC Regulations |publisher=Dcregs.dc.gov |date=2014-04-04 |access-date=2015-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228020448/http://dcregs.dc.gov/Gateway/NoticeHome.aspx?NoticeID=4827610 |archive-date=2015-02-28 }}

The campaign collected petition signatures from April 23{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/04/23/pot-legalizers-hit-dc-streets-to-secure-november-ballot-spot |title = Pot Legalizers Hit D.C. Streets to Secure November Ballot Spot - US News |access-date=2014-05-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506051224/http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/04/23/pot-legalizers-hit-dc-streets-to-secure-november-ballot-spot |archive-date=2014-05-06 }} until the July 7{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Matt |url=http://dcist.com/2014/07/marijuana_activists_turn_in_more_th.php |title=Marijuana Activists Turn In More Than 57,000 Signatures For Legalization Effort |publisher=DCist |date=2014-07-07 |access-date=2016-11-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308024111/http://dcist.com/2014/07/marijuana_activists_turn_in_more_th.php |archive-date=2017-03-08 }} deadline, ultimately submitting over 55,000 signatures; the District certified 27,688 of the signatures as valid, exceeding the 22,600 requirement.{{cite news|author=Mike DeBonis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-voters-to-decide-on-marijuana-use-in-november/2014/08/06/11e15576-1d7a-11e4-ae54-0cfe1f974f8a_story.html |title=D.C. voters to decide on marijuana use in November |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2014-08-06 |access-date=2016-11-07}}

While the campaign was preparing its ballot initiative, on March 4, 2014, the Council of the District of Columbia decriminalized possession of cannabis,{{cite news|last=Davis |first=Aaron C. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-eliminates-jail-time-for-marijuana-possession-stepping-to-national-forefront/2014/03/04/df6fd98c-a32b-11e3-a5fa-55f0c77bf39c_story.html |title=D.C. Council votes to eliminate jail time for marijuana possession |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2014-03-05 |access-date=2015-02-28}} which went into effect in July following the mandatory 30-day congressional review period. Medical cannabis had already been legalized in the District by Initiative 59 in 1998, but its implementation was blocked by Congress until 2009, with the first legal sales occurring in 2013.{{cite web|last=Altieri |first=Erik |url=http://blog.norml.org/2013/07/30/first-medical-marijuana-sale-reported-in-washington-dc/ |title=First Medical Marijuana Sale Reported in Washington, DC | NORML Blog, Marijuana Law Reform |publisher=Blog.norml.org |date=2013-07-30 |access-date=2016-11-07}}

Throughout 2014, the DC Cannabis Campaign advocated for passage of the measure, while groups such as Two Is Enough D.C. formed to oppose the measure.{{cite news|last1=Weiner|first1=Rachel|title='Two. Is. Enough. D.C.' forms to oppose marijuana legalization effort in the District|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/two-is-enough-dc-forms-to-oppose-marijuana-legalization-effort-in-the-district/2014/09/17/1d08d792-3dfc-11e4-b0ea-8141703bbf6f_story.html|access-date=27 February 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|date=17 September 2014}}

The measure was approved by 64.87% of voters on November 4, 2014. Almost immediately following, Republicans in Congress, and Maryland Representative Andy Harris in particular, vowed to block legalization of cannabis in D.C.{{cite news|last=Davis |first=Aaron C. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/house-republican-vows-to-upend-dc-ballot-measure-legalizing-marijuana/2014/11/05/10304f2c-6508-11e4-9fdc-d43b053ecb4d_story.html |title=Legalization limbo in D.C.: Republican congress will have final say on city pot law |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2014-11-05 |access-date=2015-02-28}} The ballot results were certified on December 3, 2014.

{{Referendum

|title=Initiative 71

|yes= 115,050 |yes%=64.87

|no=49,168 |no%=27.72

|invalid=

|invalid%=

| total = 164,255

| electorate = 177,358

|turnoutpct=|}}

Source: DC Board of Elections

In mid-December 2014, Congress passed an omnibus spending bill (nicknamed the "CRomnibus"—a portmanteau of omnibus and continuing resolution{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/barack-obama/obama-signs-1-1-trillion-government-spending-bill-n269731 |title=Obama Signs $1.1 Trillion Government Spending Bill |publisher=NBC News |date=2014-12-16 |access-date=2015-02-28}}{{cite web|author=Ezra Klein|author-link=Ezra Klein|url=https://www.vox.com/2014/12/11/7376585/cromnibus-2015-appropriations-details |title=How to sound smart about the 2015 appropriations bill |publisher=Vox |date=2014-12-11 |access-date=2015-02-28}}) that ended the federal ban on medical marijuana, but that also included a legislative rider targeted at D.C.'s Initiative 71. The rider's final language barred the use of funds to "enact any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties associated with the possession, use, or distribution of any schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative for recreational purposes."{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c113:H.R.83: |title=Bill Text – 113th Congress (2013-2014) – THOMAS (Library of Congress) |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov |access-date=2015-02-28 |archive-date=2016-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703183945/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c113:H.R.83: |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr83enr/pdf/BILLS-113hr83enr.pdf |title=HR 83 |website=www.gpo.gov |access-date=2019-07-30}} The final language notably solely used the phrase "enact" rather than "enact or carry out." Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton said that "she was told by Democratic budget negotiators that the omission was made on purpose to give city leaders a chance to argue that in moving forward, the District is only carrying out, and not enacting, the measure."{{cite news|last=Davis |first=Aaron C. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-maneuvering-for-marijuana-showdown-with-congress/2014/12/13/5ea4908c-8155-11e4-9f38-95a187e4c1f7_story.html |title=D.C. maneuvering for marijuana showdown with Congress |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2014-12-13 |access-date=2015-02-28}} Norton reiterated this point in an Initiative 71 questions and answers section on her House Web site.{{cite web|url=http://norton.house.gov/initiative71 |title=Frequently Asked Questions on Implementing D.C.'s Marijuana Legalization Initiative | Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton |date=12 December 2014 |publisher=Norton.house.gov |access-date=2015-02-28}}

Both Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Council of the District of Columbia took the position that the voter-approved initiative became self-enacting.{{cite web|author=German Lopez |url=https://www.vox.com/2015/1/14/7548003/dc-council-marijuana-legalization |title=Despite congressional threats, DC Council is definitely moving forward on legal marijuana |publisher=Vox |date=2015-01-14 |access-date=2015-02-28}}{{cite web|author=54 days Meet the Press |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meet-press-transcript-january-4-2015-n279441 |title=Meet the Press Transcript – January 4, 2015 |publisher=NBC News |date=2015-01-04 |access-date=2015-02-28}} On January 13, 2015, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson sent the measure to Congress for a mandatory 30-day review period,{{cite news|last=Davis |first=Aaron C. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-challenges-congress-to-halt-marijuana-legalization-in-nations-capital/2015/01/13/e10134ba-9a71-11e4-bcfb-059ec7a93ddc_story.html |title=D.C. challenges Congress to halt marijuana legalization in nation's capital |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2015-02-28}} in accordance with the District of Columbia Home Rule Act.

On February 24, 2015, Representatives Jason Chaffetz and Mark Meadows sent a letter to Bowser urging her to not move forward with Initiative 71.{{cite news|last=Davis |first=Aaron C. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-despite-legal-pot-city-will-not-become-like-amsterdam/2015/02/24/c34a4d3a-bb9b-11e4-b274-e5209a3bc9a9_story.html |title=Lawmakers encourage Bowser to reconsider declaring pot legal in D.C. |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2015-02-28}}{{cite news |url=https://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/local/letter-to-dc-mayor-muriel-bowser-regarding-initiative-71/1427/ |title=Letter to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser regarding Initiative 71 – The Washington Post |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2015-02-24 |access-date=2015-02-28 |archive-date=2015-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227145428/http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/local/letter-to-dc-mayor-muriel-bowser-regarding-initiative-71/1427/ |url-status=dead }} Congressional Republicans, including the omnibus rider author's Andy Harris, threatened prison time for the D.C. mayor and others involved, suggesting that they could be prosecuted by the Justice Department under the Anti-Deficiency Act, which "imposes criminal penalties on government employees who knowingly spend public funds in excess of their appropriated budgets."{{cite news|author=Mike DeBonis and Aaron C. Davis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/house-republicans-warn-dc-mayor-not-to-legalize-pot/2015/02/25/2f784a10-bcb0-11e4-bdfa-b8e8f594e6ee_story.html |title=Bowser: Legal pot possession to take effect at midnight in the District |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2012-12-14 |access-date=2015-02-28}}

This congressional review period ended at 12:01 a.m. on February 26, 2015, making D.C. then the "only place east of the Mississippi River where people can legally grow and share marijuana in private."{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/dc-legalizes-pot-in-capital-despite-threats-from-congress/2015/02/26/60b133a6-bdac-11e4-9dfb-03366e719af8_story.html |title=Pot fight between DC Mayor, Congress could cost the city |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2015-02-28}} {{Dead link|date=June 2016}}{{cbignore}} D.C. "allows adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, grow up to six plants, and gift up to one ounce of pot to other adults 21 and older, but sales remain banned", as Washington, D.C.'s ballot initiative process does not allow spending mandates such as commercialization would require.{{cite web|author=German Lopez |url=https://www.vox.com/2015/2/26/8108105/marijuana-legalization-washington-dc |title=Marijuana is now legal in Washington, D.C.. Here's what you need to know. |publisher=Vox |date=2015-02-26 |access-date=2015-02-28}}{{cite web|author=By A.J. Feather |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/weed-people-pot-legalization-washington-dc/story?id=29227305 |title=Weed The People: What You Need to Know About Pot Legalization in Washington, DC - ABC News |publisher=Abcnews.go.com |date=2015-02-26 |access-date=2016-11-07}} However the legalization of gifting up to one ounce of cannabis as outlined in Initiative 71 has created a gifting economy in DC, where stores and businesses in DC exchange cannabis as a gift with the purchases of items such as t-shirts, stickers etc, which are actually being purchased by customers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/free-weed-marijuana-gifting-economy-pot-washington-dc-1.4457664|title=Green rush, grey market: How free weed is firing up D.C.'s pot 'gifting economy'|date=17 January 2018|access-date=23 January 2022}}

• Cannabis in the District of Columbia
• Decriminalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States#District of Columbia
• Legal history of cannabis in the United States#State-level legalization
• Timeline of cannabis legalization in the United States#Municipal

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Category:2014 cannabis law reform

Category:2014 in Washington, D.C.

Category:Cannabis ballot measures in the United States

Category:Cannabis law in the District of Columbia

Category:Politics of Washington, D.C.