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Pot Legalization Advocates Gather in Arlington

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ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - Advocates for the legalization of marijuana and other changes to U.S. drug laws are getting together for a four-day conference in the Washington area.

The 2015 International Drug Policy Reform Conference is being hosted by the Drug Policy Alliance. It's being held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.

The group is also planning to lobby Congress on Wednesday, urging lawmakers to pass bills that would make it easier for states to change their marijuana laws and decrease penalties for people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.

Earlier this year, the District of Columbia legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington state have also legalized recreational pot. Legalization proponents are planning ballot measures in several more states next year.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.