Changing the Marijuana Laws With Colorado and Washington state legalizing marijuana, 2014 has been an important year for the reform of marijuana laws in the United States.  Last month, the DC Council passed one of the most progressive laws in the US concerning the decriminalization of marijuana.  Soon, District residents will not have to fear going to jail for possessing small amounts of marijuana, instead being caught with marijuana will result in a $25 fine, akin to a traffic ticket. 

But where will the marijuana come from?  Why not fully legalize it?  Currently, most of the cannabis comes from outside Washington, DC, and until the DC Council passes a “tax & regulate” law — similar to what was passed in Colorado and Washington state — District residents are in limbo. 

In order to rectify this, the DC Cannabis Campaign (online at www.DCMJ.org) submitted legislation in January that will soon become voter initiative #71, which will allow District residents to grow their own marijuana at home.  Residents won’t be allowed to sell their marijuana to others, but they’ll be guaranteed the right to cultivate and consume cannabis in the privacy and safety of their homes.  The DC Cannabis Campaign will need to collect nearly 25,000 signatures from registered DC voters in order to put the initiative on November’s general election ballot.  If you are interested in helping the campaign, please send an email to Volunteer@DCMJ.org. 

Tonight, the DC Cannabis Campaign is joining with the Maryland and Virginia chapters of NORML to give out awards to those who have helped change the marijuana laws in the “DMV.”  We hope you will join us!

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For Langston Hughes on His 123 Birthday

Speech given on February 1, 2024 in Havana, Cuba In 1927 Langston Hughes walked into a Cuba amid an emerging community of artists, intellectuals, and radicals.  He saw a “sunrise in a new land [– a day – in his words]sic – full of brownskin surprises, and hitherto unknown contacts in a world of color.”  … Continued

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Palestine Week 2024

January 18, 2024 – January 25, 2024 In keeping with our ongoing mission of uplifting racial and cultural connections, Busboys and Poets is hosting Palestine Week (January 18 through January 25, 2024). This week-long series of events will offer a diverse range of programming featuring Palestinian food, music, dance, poetry, discussions, and other enriching events. … Continued

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Everest Base Camp #17

Oxygen please or more Dawa wisdom After leaving the monastery I ask Dawa. How do you keep from slipping on these rocks. Dawa says. The foot has two parts. The thinker. And the doer. The thinker is the ball of the foot. The front of the foot. It senses things and can quickly adjust. It … Continued