Thursday, December 11, 2014

Boneheads from both sides in congress blocking marijuana legalization in Washington DC

Good Day World!

Both Republican and Democratic congressional leaders managed to agree on something recently. A Christmas miracle?

Not really.

It’s the same old shit according to the DC Cannabis Campaign and Drug Policy Alliance. Congress is playing the Grinch and blocking marijuana legalization in Washington DC.

BACKROUND

  • DC's legalization initiative got more than 69 percent of the vote in November. But ballot initiatives, like all DC laws, must get congressional approval to become law, and they can be blocked through congressional budgetary requirements.
  • DC's marijuana legalization measure would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, grow up to six plants, and give marijuana to other adults 21 and older.
  • The measure wouldn't legalize, regulate, or tax sales, because voter initiatives in DC can't have a direct impact on the local budget.
  • Marijuana legalization will remain in place in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, since Congress doesn't have the authority to terminate those states' laws.

    HOW CONGRESS IS GETTING AWAY WITH IT

    Through the Home Rule Act of 1973, Washington, DC, can elect a sitting local government composed of a council, mayor, and other local agencies. But the Home Rule Act also made it so each law passed by the local government requires congressional approval — and Congress can still block DC's laws through budgetary requirements, as they are doing with the legalization measure.

    Congress previously used this authority to block DC from implementing a medical marijuana law for nearly 12 years. Federal lawmakers have also prevented DC from using local tax dollars to fund abortion services and life-saving clean needle exchange programs.

    Read more: 6 questions about Washington, DC, statehood you were too disenfranchised to ask.

    Time for me to walk on down the road…

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