It went pretty well, considering.

They voted to decriminalize it indoors, but still have it illegal outdoors, more than likely to avoid butting heads with the federal level which, especially given our city, is a good idea. On the other hand, there's always a second reading, and they may decide to decriminalize out of doors as well at that point.

One of the shocking things about this city is that, while we're the seat of the most ineffective federal governments of all time, the city's government is fairly attentive to the residents. Here they're looking at this issue as a way of addressing arrest disparities among racial lines, as well as a way of reducing financial burden on the smoker as well, seeing as the arrested are generally 1.) Black and 2.) Poorer. Those are unfortunately usually related as well in our society.

Tommy Wells is no saint like many try to make him out to be, but this

In response to concerns raised by the Drug Policy Alliance and other witnesses at the hearing that the proposed $100 civil fine would be too burdensome for poor and African-American residents who were disproportionately arrested and would likely be disproportionately fined for marijuana possession, Wells lowered the fine for possession from $100 to $25.

is how politics are supposed to work. He sees something needs changing and makes a proposal, he brings it before the proper people and witnesses from the community, and he made amendments to the proposals based of the concerns of those people that will be affected who were in agreement with the proper administrations. DC has really turned itself around in the last two decades. We still have a lot to work on, and there's still a lot of outrage at things that happen, but at least there is outrage and involvement.

Florida will have medical marijuana on this year's election ballot, and of course we know of Washington and Colorado. It's will be interested to see how these next few years pan out for marijuana in general. The movement seems to be gaining some traction, and states are doing their own thing. How could the DEA enforce something that is illegal federally but legal in their jurisdictions?