Legal marijuana begins in Washington, D.C. as 'green rush' is on

Possession of small amounts of marijuana became legal in the District of Columbia on Thursday, launching a pot "green rush" despite a face-off between local officials and the Republican-led U.S. Congress over the new standards.

The U.S. capital joined Washington state, Alaska and Colorado in making marijuana lawful for recreational use, reflecting a rapidly shifting legal landscape for the drug. It remains illegal under federal law.

"Nationwide, it (legalization) is clearly symbolic in its ability to impact other places" in the United States, said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

He called the new legal framework "depenalization" since sales were still barred, and said it was unlikely to unseat a thriving black market. City finance officials have estimated the marijuana market at $130 million a year.

Initiative 71, a ballot measure legalizing marijuana possession that was approved by 65 percent of District of Columbia voters in November, took effect at 12:01 a.m.

Oregon voters approved a similar measure in November, but marijuana does not become lawful there until July.

D.C.’s limits on legal marijuana possession are twice as high as anywhere else When pot legalization kicks in at 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning in Washington, D.C., residents will be free to legally have twice as much marijuana as in the states that have legalized the drug.

In the four states that have so far approved legal weed - Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington - limits on possession are or will be set at an ounce. In D.C., the limit will be two ounces.

But, as we wrote Tuesday, D.C.'s legalization rules are similar in many ways to those in the states that approved legalization. Here's a quick look at some of the ways in which they compare:

Consumption is banned in public and on federal land and property in all four states and D.C.
Home-growing limits are highest in D.C., Colorado and Alaska. Under the rules in both states and the capitol, adults may grow and keep the products of up to six plants at home, three of them mature.
Up to an ounce of the plant can be provided as a gift in D.C., Alaska, Colorado and Oregon.
Voter approval for legalization was higher in D.C. than in any of the states that legalized. The results were, in order:
D.C.: 64.9 percent
Oregon: 56.1 percent
Washington: 55.7 percent
Colorado: 55.3 percent
Alaska: 53.2 percent

The District of Columbia law allows adults to possess up to 2 ounces (56 grams) of marijuana and to grow six plants at home, three of them mature. Sales are barred but transfers of up to 1 ounce (26 grams) are legal.