WASHINGTON — Possession of marijuana will become legal in the nation’s capital, Mayor Muriel Bowser reiterated Wednesday, defying a threat from Congress that she and other city leaders could face prison time for implementing a voter-approved initiative.
Bowser, a Democrat, said the city’s plans haven’t changed despite a letter from two leading House Republicans warning of repercussions if the city moves forward with legalization, which was set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
Congress has final say over the laws in the District of Columbia. The two sides disagree about whether Congress acted quickly enough to block an initiative legalizing pot, which was approved by city voters in November.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican who is chairman of the House Oversight Committee, urged Bowser in a letter Tuesday to reconsider her plans to implement the initiative, saying that doing so would violate federal law.
Washington will become the first place east of the Mississippi River where recreational pot is legal.
