Legal loophole in DC creates bizarre pot bazaar

Police aren't "actively out hunting" for marijuana violators as long as everything stays low-key and the neighbors don't complain
The New York Times (US)
Thursday, September 28, 2017

A 2014 ballot initiative to legalize recreational use passed overwhelmingly in Washington DC. But unlike the eight states that have legalized recreational use, the Washington initiative also maintained it was still illegal to buy or sell the drug. So instead of the straightforward marijuana storefronts common in Colorado or Nevada, Washington has developed a thriving "gift economy" marijuana industry. These businesses – many offering delivery – sell everything from coffee cups to artwork – all overpriced and all coming with a little something extra. It's a curious legal and semantic tightrope, and one the District's politicians and police seem determined to keep walking.