Legal pot in D.C.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has promised that recreational marijuana will become legal in the district beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning, in accordance with a voter-approved measure. House Republicans are attempting to quash it at the last minute, with a letter that argues the measure violates federal law. One of the letterโ€™s authors, Rep. Jason Chaffetz told the Washington Post that D.C. officials โ€œcan go to prison for [enacting legalization]. Weโ€™re not playing a little game here.โ€

Well, assuming Bowser doesnโ€™t flinch in the next 15 hours, and you were considering hopping down to D.C. to smoke pot in peace tomorrow (check the weather first!), you should know what legal pot actually means.

It will not be legal to smoke marijuana in public anywhere in the district. That includes, according to the Washington Post, bars, restaurants, and movie theaters. It will not be legal even to possess marijuana on federal land, which makes up 20 percent of D.C., so watch out there. You must be 21 to possess, and you canโ€™t have more than 2 ounces on you.

Itโ€™s still against the rules in public housing, and collegeโ€™s campus rules still apply. So, basically, youโ€™ve got to go to a private residence.  And thereโ€™s still no buying and selling. And, of course, you canโ€™t drive stoned.

If all those particulars get your anxiety up, Iโ€™ve got an idea for how to relax.