Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

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D.C. Council considers sealing nonviolent marijuana cases

A Congressional spending measure will again block the sale of marijuana in D.C. Hatchet File Photo
Cameron Lancaster
A Congressional spending measure will again block the sale of marijuana in D.C. Hatchet File Photo

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District residents busted for pot could soon see their cases sealed.

A D.C. Council committee discussed a bill Thursday that would wipe away criminal records for people caught possessing marijuana in cases that did not involve violence.

Sealing the records would mean people would not have to disclose the information on job applications or when looking for housing, according to a Washington Post report.

Allen St. Pierre, the executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws said in October that a marijuana-related arrest could “tarnish” a person for life.

“It’s generally a really good thing what the District is trying to do,” St. Pierre said.

The city government could also decriminalize small amounts of marijuana.

The push to decriminalize up to an ounce of marijuana was introduced in the Council over the summer, and was subsequently backed by 10 of the 13 members. Mayor Vincent Gray voiced his support for the bill in October.

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