Photo via Capital City Care

Today was part two of Councilmember Tommy Wells’ (D-Ward 6) public hearing on his marijuana decriminalization bill, and for most of the day, witnesses testified at the Wilson Building to express their support for or criticism of the bill. Just like last night, a majority of the public witnesses support Wells’ bill, “The Simple Possession of Small Quantities Of Marijuana Decriminalization Amendment Act of 2013,” for the most part.

Today’s hearing, however, was a bit different in that government officials were invited to testify before the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, which Wells’ chairs, plus the bill’s co-introducer, Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), and David Grosso (I-At Large). Among the witnesses who testified was Andrew Fois, the city’s deputy attorney general for public safety, who expressed Mayor Vincent Gray’s support, along with Attorney General Irv Nathan. But not without some caveats.

“The executive is eager to work with the D.C. Council on this bill,” Fois said before laying out some of the concerns the executive branch has with Wells’ bill. Gray thinks that minors should get civil records sealed the same as criminal offenses, and also wants criminal penalties for those caught smoking in parks, on sidewalks, or in drug-free school zones.

Fois also said the bill should include a provision that requires people caught with marijuana to show proper ID to police, to prevent the city from becoming clogged up with unpaid weed tickets. Barry was not too keen on this issue. Otherwise, Gray is supportive of the decriminalization bill.

It also seems as though Barry’s been thinking real hard about what he said to Wells last night, in regards to “[looking] at the idea of allowing residents to grow small amounts of marijuana.” He argued todau in favor of adding a provision that would allow residents to grow no more than three marijuana plants for personal use.