Two pro-marijuana activists were arrested Tuesday after advocates tried to confront Rep. Andy Harris[1] at his Capitol Hill Office over the issue.
Capitol Hill Police officers responded at about 12:15 p.m. to a report of “unlawful demonstration activity” outside Mr. Harris[2]’s office in the Longworth House Office Building and two of the demonstrators smoked marijuana in the hallway near his office, according to Capitol Police.
Kristin Furbish, 28, from Salisbury, and Rachel Ramon Donlan, 46, from Washington, D.C., were charged with illegally possessing a controlled substance and consuming marijuana in a public place.
Mr. Harris[3]’s office confirmed there was a marijuana protest outside of the office and said more information would be forthcoming.
Video posted to social media by Adam Eidinger, another pro-marijuana advocate, showed several activists try to get Mr. Harris’s attention as he walked into the office. They then tried to enter the office but were blocked.
The House is out until after the November elections, but Mr. Harris, Maryland Republican, presided over a pro forma session on Tuesday at approximately 12:30 p.m.
Mr. Harris[4] has pushed to include language in annual spending bills in recent years to bar federal money from being used to fund or implement the District of Columbia’s new marijuana decriminalization efforts.
Activists with the group DC Marijuana Justice announced last month they were planning demonstrations Tuesday at noon at his Washington, D.C. office, as well as at 4:20 p.m. at his office in Salisbury, Maryland....