I’m not a lawyer but it looks like people are getting worked up about a misdemeanor.
If an individual knowingly possesses a controlled substance (without having obtained the substance through a legal prescription) then the individual is guilty of a misdemeanor and faces up to 180 days in jail and/or up to $2,500 in fines. Section 48-904.01(d)(1). If the individual was in possession of phencyclidine (PCP) then the individual is guilty of a felony and faces up to three years in prison and/or up to $12,500 in fines. Section 48-904.01(d)(2).
Notably, the District of Columbia included a provision in Section 48-904.01 that provides leniency for first-time offenders possessing drugs. If an individual is guilty of knowingly possessing a controlled substance and has no prior drug-related convictions, then the court has the discretion to defer the proceedings and place the individual on probation for up to one year.
The court decides the conditions of the probation. If the individual violates the terms of the probation, then the court will proceed with prosecution as normal. If the individual successfully fulfills the terms of the probation, then the court will dismiss the charges against the individual.
In fact, the court may even end the probation early, dismissing charges against the individual. Section 48-904.01(e)(1). At this point, the individual may apply to have the records of the arrest, proceedings, and other information expunged (wiped clean) from official, public records. Section 48-904.01(e)(2).
It is important to emphasize that an individual can only have possession charges deferred once. It is also possible for the prosecutor to charge an individual who violated the distribution-related drug offense with a possession charge.
https://criminallawdc.com/dc-drug-lawyer/code-laws/
This is a lot of words to just say, both sides.