DC Police are making more arrests at "marijuana pop-up" events throughout the city.
The events take place in bars, restaurants and homes where marijuana vendors gather on a specific night. Sometimes the vendors will offer accessories, artwork or actual marijuana.
Officers have entered some events working under the suspicion that the people inside plan to illegally distribute marijuana.
In DC, it is legal to possess up to two ounces of marijuana for use in a private location. Residents can also give one ounce of marijuana to another person so long as no money, goods or services are exchanged.
Over the last month, DC Police have made arrests at several NW DC businesses for marijuana distribution offenses. Those businesses include the XO Lounge and Mason Inn. DC Police records also show a person was arrested outside the Vita Lounge in NW DC after they tried to flee an event that officers characterized as a "marijuana party". Police charged the person with resisting arrest and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
"The majority of these arrest announcements are in direct response to drug complaints from the community," said MPD Public Affairs Specialist Karimah Bilal. "MPD's job is to follow up on those reports."
Uneeda Nichols, of DC, is also a marijuana advocate. She believe the laws regarding marijuana use in the District are too vague.
"When you see a lot of money in anything, it needs to be regulated," she said.
Nichols told WUSA9 the police once raided her house in Southeast DC after they suspected she and other people inside were illegally distributing marijuana during a party.
"They watched the house the whole day," she said.
Nichols said she did not organize the party. She added that she also told the other people inside that she did not want any marijuana to be sold illegally.
Either way, she said she believes minorities are being unfairly targeted by police.
"They're having parties in Cleveland Park, they're having parties in Adams Morgan everyday, but they're not being raided," she said. "But, when you get on H street, when you cross a certain geographical part of the District, it became a problem."
However, DC Police disagreed with that claim.
"Arrests that have been made at these marijuana pop-up events show no racial disparity," Bilal said.
