Last Tuesday, the Washington D.C. city council voted to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. The vote passed 11 to 1, with Councilman Vincent B. Orange protesting that the measure was not liberal enough. Councilman Orange has, however, supported an amendment that would make it illegal for Washington D.C. employers to drug test employees. He fears that low income residents will face discrimination from employers for failing drug tests.

Mayor Vincent Gray has voiced his support for the measure publicly and is expected to sign it. If he does sign it, the measure would decriminalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. Those caught in possession of one ounce or less of marijuana will receive a fine of $25. This makes possession of small amounts of marijuana comparable to a parking ticket. Currently, possession of any amount of marijuana can lead to up to 6 months in jail and up to a $1000 fine.

According to TIME, "Washington, D.C., currently has the highest arrest rate in the country for marijuana possession and 91 percent of arrests for pot in the district are of black people, according to the Marijuana Policy Project."

If the new measure is put into effect, smoking marijuana in public would remain a crime. Smoking in public would receive up to 6 months in jail or a $500 fine. Smoking in public would be similar to having an open beer can in public. However, being impaired by marijuana in public would not be a crime, unlike public drunkenness, unless it is while operating a motor vehicle.

This recent measure in D.C. is part of a growing trend of leniency in marijuana legislation. Currently, 16 states have decriminalized the possession of marijuana. The new measure will go through a 60day review period in which Congress can overturn it.