Congressional Spending Bill Blocks D.C. From Legalizing Marijuana

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Congressional Spending Bill Blocks D.C. From Legalizing Marijuana

When we say "no taxation without representation," we mean you. Hooray for small government.

Sarah Anne Hughes in News on Dec 9, 2014 10:25 pm

Because they can, Congress is attempting to block D.C. from legalizing marijuana as part of a $1.1 trillion spending bill, directly ignoring the will of 65 percent of local voters.

"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," the spending bill states. That language comes from Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, who previous attempted to defund D.C.'s marijuana decriminalization law. Decriminalization is not specifically mentioned in the spending bill, but a press release from the House Appropriations Committee makes this clear: The bill "prohibits both federal and local funds from being used to implement a referendum legalizing recreational marijuana use in the District."

The riders don't stop there. The bill also includes a provision that would force the D.C. Council to add a so-called "conscience clause" allowing health insurance providers to not cover contraception.

Nothing in this Act may be construed to prevent the Council or Mayor of the District of Columbia from addressing the issue of the provision of contraceptive coverage by health insurance plans, but it is the intent of Congress that any legislation enacted on such issue should include a ‘‘conscience clause’’ which provides exceptions for religious beliefs and moral convictions.

....
But perhaps nothing — nothing! — can top the absurdity of the following rider, which has been included before:

None of the Federal funds contained in this Act may be used by the District of Columbia Attorney General or any other officer or entity of the District government to provide assistance for any petition drive or civil action which seeks to require Congress to provide for voting representation in Congress for the District of Columbia.

The last colony, indeed.

[pipoman]

1. DC is always and has always been regulated by

Congress. It is regulated by Congress because it is the nation's capital. It is bigger than the residents, and every resident knows this and knew it when they decided to live there. I'm not sure i really want DC to be among the first places to legalize pot for recreation. If this movement among the states continues, legalization will come soon enough.

[VanillaRhapsody]

3. YOU might not....but the people living there

Overwhelmingly disagree with you...

[pipoman]

4. I get that

It doesn't belong to the residents of the city, it belongs to the citizens of the US. It is why DC isn't in a state. Every resident of DC knew this when they decided to live there instead of Virginia or Maryland. I have no problem at all with states legalizing. ..in fact I believe it is overdue.

[VanillaRhapsody]

5. NO you don't get that

Are these citizens your slaves? You own their lives because of where they live?

[pipoman]

6. No, you apparently don't get it

The residents of DC chose to live within 68 square miles out of 3.8 million square miles that belongs to all of the citizens of the US. This is nothing new.

[VanillaRhapsody]

7. I live in the area and I do get it..

You I am not so sure about..these are Americans I might remind you. .you don't own them because they were mostly BORN there...

[pipoman]

8. Do you know what a slave is?

[GreatGazoo]

2. The cost of keeping MJ criminal is much higher than de-crim.

What if they privately fund the de-crim? as in by getting funding from future sellers/outlets.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. D.C. scrambles to preserve pot legalization law gutted by Congress

No taxation without representation.*

* Some conditions may apply. See store for details.

Warning: clicking on links to the Washington Times brings on pop-up ads for cures for erectile dysfunction.

D.C. scrambles to preserve pot legalization law gutted by Congress

By Andrea Noble - The Washington Times - Wednesday, December 10, 2014

The congressional architect of an amendment in a massive federal spending bill that rolled back new D.C. marijuana laws says the bill will block the city’s voter-approved referendum legalizing recreational use of the drug, despite assertions from local leaders that the initiative could stand.

The addition of the “rider” in the $1.1 trillion budget measure released Tuesday sent D.C. lawmakers and activists scrambling Wednesday to determine the extent of the damage the amendment could cause as well as to lobby to have it removed.
....

Andrea Noble is a crime and public safety reporter for The Washington Times. She can be reached at [e-mail].

[Luxadvector]

11. Why the fear?

Crime rates have dropped and the budget is surplus (!); why aren't people happy to have it de-criminalized, sold and taxed like we did here in Colorado?