Pot Protesters Get Arrested Again at US Capitol

WASHINGTON, DC — Just days after U.S. Capitol Police arrested marijuana demonstrators in a 4/20 protest, advocates were back in front of the U.S. Capitol on Monday to light up, resulting in four more arrests.

U.S. Capitol Police watched over the group waiting for them to start smoking, and descended on those who did to make arrests. Marijuana is legal in the District, but remains illegal at the federal level.

Demonstrators gathered at the Southeast end of the Capitol on Monday for what organizer DCMJ, a D.C.-based marijuana advocacy group, called a "#Reschedule 420 smoke-in." Eight marijuana legalization advocates were arrested on April 20, also known as 4/20 by weed enthusiasts.

"While other marijuana advocacy groups are issuing statements, we are calling on them to join us in a national demonstration on April 24, 2017," DCMJ said in a statement before the demonstration. "The powers that be ignore our statements and petitions but they cannot ignore us when we gather in large numbers.

"Congress is not listening to us and they need to be reminded that America’s cannabis laws need to be changed NOW," the statement continues. "Not with some lame bandaid of a law that lets states do their own thing or rescheduling that prohibits plant access, but a comprehensive law that allows you to take your cannabis in a car from DC to California without fear of arrest."

Police dropped the charges in Thursday's arrests except against Adam Eidinger, the co-founder of DCMJ, and DC Cannabis Co-Op Club founder William Angolia, according to a McClatchy report. During that demonstration, called "Congressional #JointSession," advocates handed out marijuana to congressional staffers.

DCMJ was behind a similar demonstration during the inauguration of Donald Trump. Thousands of people lined up to get free joints from the group at DuPont Circle, and then the group marched down to the National Mall to light up four minutes and 20 seconds into Trump's speech. No arrests were made, although the National Mall is federal property.

Some scenes from Monday's protest:

Police standing by, protesters expecting arrests when the smoke joints on Capitol grounds. Demonstration calls for legalization. pic.twitter.com/4THRc2deZf
— Meagan Fitzgerald (@MeaganNBCDC) April 24, 2017

U.S. Capitol Police arrested four demonstrators for smoking marijuana on Capitol grounds. https://t.co/6P8ib0EeR6
— NBCWashington (@nbcwashington) April 25, 2017

4 arrested for lighting up at marijuana 'smoke-in' on Capitol grounds Monday @CapitolPolice @DCMJ2014 https://t.co/Armv9REGd6 pic.twitter.com/V6SuI65dDE
— NewsChannel 8 (@NewsChannel8) April 24, 2017

Demonstrators gather for a smoke-in outside the U.S. Capitol. They want congress to legalize marijuana https://t.co/mxEgYkbTnv
— Jenny Vasquez (@JennVasquez_DC) April 24, 2017

Image via National Park Service