Washington, Feb 26 (IANS): Washington DC has become the latest place in the US to legalise the use and possession of small amounts of marijuana, media reported Thursday.

The legalisation came into effect since 12 midnight Thursday, The Washington Post reported.

Despite a last-hour intervention by the Republican chairman of the House committee that handles DC affairs, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser and DC Council members Wednesday said they would not back down from implementing the will of the 70 percent of city voters who approved legalisation in November 2014.

Nearly two-thirds of DC voters approved Initiative 71 in November.

Under Initiative 71, people aged 21 or older will be allowed to have two ounces or less of marijuana, use marijuana on private property and give one ounce or less to another person as long as no money, goods or services are exchanged to the person, according to USA Today.

Residents will also be permitted to cultivate up to six marijuana plants, but have no more than three mature plants, in their primary home.

Washington DC joins Alaska, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington state as the only places in the US that allow the use of the drug for recreational purposes.