In an effort to push President-elect Donald Trump into some serious consideration to the nationwide legalization of marijuana, one tenacious advocacy group hailing from District of Columbia plans to distribute free weed on Inauguration Day.
The D.C Cannabis Coalition (DCMJ) says it will rally at Dupont Circle prior to Trump being sworn in and then have its loyal followers march over to the National Mall, where the entire country will be watching the reality star become the new President of the United States.
“The main message is it’s time to legalize cannabis at the federal level,” Adam Eidinger, founder of DCMJ, told CBS affiliate WUSA.
The group explains that it will hand out exactly 4,200 complimentary cannabis gifts to event spectators, an act that is perfectly legal throughout the District with the passing of Initiative 71.
Although marijuana remains illegal under the confines of federal law, possession of up to two ounces is perfectly acceptable in DC, as is cultivation and the ability to transfer up to an ounce to family and friends.
The protest is being conducted as a middle finger, of sorts, to Trump’s selection for U.S. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions. Eidinger, the same as most marijuana advocates across the nation, is worried that the new head of the U.S Department of Justice that includes the DEA, will not do as his predecessors have done and honor the people’s will to legalize.
“We are looking at a guy who as recently as April said that they are going to enforce federal law on marijuana all over the country. He said marijuana is dangerous,” Eidinger said.
During Trump’s inauguration speech, 4 minutes and 20 seconds into it, to be specific, DCMJ wants to encourage everyone who takes advantage of its free weed offerings to light up – a action that technically goes against the grain of the local marijuana laws.
While public consumption of marijuana is a citable offense throughout the District, even simple possession of the herb on federal property can lead to arrest.
“We are going to tell them that if they smoke on federal property, they are risking arrest. But, that’s a form of civil disobedience,” Eidinger said. “I think it’s a good protest. If someone wants to do it, they are risking arrest, but it’s a protest and you know what, the National Mall is a place for protest.”
Organizers are adamant that the upcoming protest is not intended to be a blatant slam against Donald Trump. They want people from a variety of political stances visiting from every tiny crevasse of the nation to feel more than welcome to join in on the fun.
