Activists who favor marijuana legalization and local autonomy for the District of Columbia confronted Rep. Jason Chaffetz on Capitol Hill Tuesday and offered him a long glass “peace pipe.”

The Utah Republican, who last month said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser could land in prison for enacting a voter-approved marijuana legalization law, declined the figurative and literal offers.

Chaffetz chairs the House oversight committee, and activists caught up with him as he presided over a hearing on an unrelated matter.

The lawmaker appeared annoyed as activists dressed as colonists - to mock what they see as antiquated laws and policies that put the district under Congress’ thumb - poured into the sparsely populated room mid-hearing.



Chaffetz rolled his eyes, swiveled in his chair and whispered to a staffer, but did not order the silent protesters removed.

After the hearing, Chaffetz told U.S. News all he had to say to the activists was “welcome to Congress.”

Protest organizer Adam Eidinger, leader of the legalization ballot campaign approved by 70 percent of city voters in November, shouted as Chaffetz left the room, “accept the peace pipe, let’s start over.” Chaffetz did not look back.

Earlier in the day, a half dozen costumed activists and many reporters squeezed into the lobby of Chaffetz’s Washington office in the same office building.



Activists Adam Eidinger, at left with top hat, and James Jones, speak to the media during a demonstration Tuesday in the Washington office of Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. Steven Nelson/USN&WR

Woodrow Landfair of Northeast Washington, wearing a tricorn hat and white knee-socks, told staffers that district voters are tired of congressional interference with local laws, such a marijuana legalization, and feel they are being taxed without representation.

Nikolas Schiller, a leader of the D.C. Cannabis Campaign whose outfit could have passed for rag-tag revolutionary or pirate, said if Chaffetz wanted to regulate local affairs he should get to work addressing the many potholes on city streets.

James Jones of the advocacy group D.C. Vote suggested Chaffetz run for city council if he’s interested in local politics. With his name recognition and political connections, Jones told staffers, the conservative Mormon may have a shot.

Chaffetz’s staff was mostly good-humored about the demonstration. Unlike a similar demonstration in July at the office of Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., author of the budget rider Congress passed in December blocking further pot legalization in the district, staff did not call the police.



An aide invited the activists to reach out for a meeting and politely asked that they not erect a liberty pole in Chaffetz’s front yard. She and another staffer also refused to accept the glass peace pipe - saying they needed to consult ethics rules first.

Last month Chaffetz demanded from district officials a list of city employees involved in enacting the voter-approved legalization law and a record of funds spent. He warned local officials faced possible years in prison for defying Congress - something experts doubt - and gave them a March 10 deadline to supply the information.

District officials decided to implement the legalization law after declaring it self-enacted when voters approved it. For now, city officials appear unlikely to establish a framework for recreational sales, which likely would be harder - but not necessarily impossible - to defend.

Melissa Subbotin, a spokeswoman for the congressman, said Chaffetz received “some information” and letters from two district officials.