DC Mayor Says it’s Unlikely Activists Will be Arrested for Smoking Marijuana at Trump Inauguration
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser
Recently the DC Cannabis Campaign announced that they will be handing out 4,200 free joints at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20th.
They plan to light and smoke the joints four minutes and 20 seconds into Trump’s speech. Now, DC Mayor Murial Bowser, a support of legalization, says it’s unlikely those smoking at the event will be arrested.
In DC the possession and use of up to two ounces of cannabis is legal for those 21 and older, with the cultivation of up to six plants also being legal. However, smoking in public remains a misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail, so technically anyone lighting up at the event could still be arrested and charge. Bowser’s announcement is likely to ease the fears of many, and increase the turnout of those who will attend.
Bowser says she wants to see people peacefully exercising the rights afforded to them by the First Amendment. She says arresting people for smoking cannabis “wouldn’t be our first priority.”
The DC Cannabis Campaign plans to meet at 8am on the west side of Dupon Circle on the 20th; they will eventually parade toward the National Mall, handing out thousands of joints along the way. The group’s message is that there should be a change in federal cannabis laws.