By Glynn Cosker
Editor, In Homeland Security
A voter-passed ballot initiative by Washington D.C. voters to legalize small amounts of marijuana in the nation’s capital may be stopped by a measure introduced into the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill. The ballot measure, passed by a large majority of D.C. voters in the Nov. 4 midterm elections, paved the way for legal marijuana sales and taxation in the city.
Controversially, all new D.C. laws and major budget revisions, including voter-approved initiatives and measures, are subject to Congressional oversight. District laws can be vetoed by Congress if a majority is in agreement and the president concurs. However, the spending bill will likely prevent any vote by Congress on the measure, effectively making the legal marijuana ballot measure dead in the water.
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) introduced the legislation into the must-pass spending bill. He proposes legislation that bars the District from allocating funds for the legalization of marijuana, basically preventing Washington D.C. from spending any money to bring the ballot measure into fruition.
The legislation found within the bill, which goes up for a vote in the House Thursday reads: “None of the funds contained in this Act may be used to enact any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties associated with the possession, Controlled Substances Act or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative for recreational purposes.”
Adding special interest measures to a vital omnibus spending bill is a common practice on Capitol Hill. For his part, Harris cited medical and monetary reasons for his actions.
“Numerous studies show the negative impact regular recreational marijuana use has on the developing brain and on future economic opportunities for those who use this illegal drug,” said Harris. “I am glad Congress is going to, in a bipartisan way, uphold federal law to protect our youth by preventing legalization in Washington, D.C.”
Others in Washington had an opposing view:
“It is disheartening and frustrating to learn that once again the District of Columbia is being used as a political pawn by the Congress,” stated David Grosso, an at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia. “To undermine the vote of the people — taxpayers — does not foster or promote the ‘limited government’ stance House Republicans claim they stand for.”
The massive spending bill allocates $521 billion for defense and $492 billion for other purposes.