Voters from Washington, D.C. approved the legalization of marijuana during the midterm elections a few weeks ago, and the city's legislative council took a huge step toward taxing and regulating marijuana for recreational use.

Washington D.C. voters showed an overwhelming approval for legalizing marijuana in the nations capital, as the Initiative 71 passed with nearly 70 percent of voters' approval.

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Initiative 71 was a ballot measure that legalizes the possession of up to two of ounces and the ability to grow up to six marijuana plants for each person aged 21-and-over. But "due to D.C. law, the initiative was not allowed to address the taxation and regulation of marijuana sales," DrugPolicy.orgreports.

This led many to speculate that Washington D.C. would implement simple decriminalization laws instead of allowing the regulation of retail stores to sell marijuana like the current laws in effect with Colorado and Washington state.

But to the excitement of many marijuana advocates, the D.C. council's Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs approved sections 6 through 8 of a bill that was introduced in 2013 by Councilmember David Grosso.

Known as Council Bill 20-466, the bill aims to regulate and tax marijuana similar to alcohol and implement state marijuana laws similar to Colorado, and will appoint the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) to create all cannabis regulations. 

The Committee on Finance and Revenue must first address the remaining sections of the bill before the entire D.C council can officially consider it.

"Recreational cannabis stores could open in 2016 if the council approves final legislation by next spring and Congress does not try to stop the process," Forbes reports.  

If the D.C. council approves Grosso's entire bill, then medical marijuana would also be coming to D.C. in addition to recreational marijuana. According to Forbes, those with a doctor's recommendation would only have a 6 percent sales tax on products, whereas a 15 percent tax will be implemented for recreational sales. 

"Today's vote in support of regulating marijuana like alcohol in the nation's capital is a validation of the overwhelming support among District residents for an end to the racial disparities and harm caused by marijuana prohibition," said Grant Smith of the Drug Policy Alliance.

Tagsmarijuana legalization, recreational marijuana, Cannabis retail sales, Washington D.C. Council, D.C. Committees, Drug Policy Alliance