Update 12/914 at 3:08 p.m. Bill Piper, director of the Office of National Affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, sent an email to friends and supporters of the Alliance, saying: "Undermining D.C.’s law is an attack on drug policy reform across the country. We can’t let this happen."
In the email, he urges supporters to "contact Speaker of the House John Boehner, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell right now. Tell them to protect the will of the voters!"
He added: "This undemocratic plan to overturn the people’s vote must be stopped. While other states have also legalized marijuana, Washington, D.C. is the only place to legalize marijuana as part of a larger effort to reduce police harassment and make the criminal justice system fairer for everyone.
"If Congress interferes in D.C. and gets away with it, then no place is safe."
Update 12/9/14 at 2:55 p.m. The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) just released a statement in response to this news. “D.C. voters overwhelmingly chose to take a smarter and safer approach to marijuana policy by allowing for the creation of a responsible, regulated system for production and sales,” said NCIA executive director Aaron Smith. “Apparently, Congress is not interested in being smart, or safe, or democratic."
Smith added: “Dictatorially blocking D.C.’s ability to create a regulatory system for already-decriminalized marijuana isn’t just a violation of the voters’ clearly stated will. It would rob the city of the chance to mandate responsible selling practices, monitor for safe products, and benefit from a powerful economic engine.
“This is a move that would manage to be both cynical and stupid, not to mention deeply out of touch with the majority of American voters, who want the federal government to butt out of local marijuana policy choices.”
According to a report just out from Marijuana.com, Congress will be shooting down Washington, D.C.'s Initiative 71, which legalizes possession and home cultivation of marijuana (and "gifting" of small amounts of marijuana, but not the sale of the drug), along with the use and sale of related paraphernalia. Voters approved the initiative during the Nov. 4 election by a vote of 64.62% to 28.43%.
Before legalization can take effect, however, the measure has to pass through Congress. Because Washington D.C. is a federal city, Congress can exert its jurisdiction over the district via "Home Rule." Under Home Rule, Congress reviews all legislation passed by the city.
"Sources say that Democrats and Republicans have agreed that a broad spending bill expected to be released today will include language exercising the federal government’s power to prevent the District of Columbia from using its own local money to enact and enforce marijuana reforms," reports Marijuana.com in today's article.
An article just published by The Washington Post reports, "Tucked in the massive spending bill needed to prevent a federal government shutdown may be a measure sought by conservative House Republicans to halt marijuana legalization in the nation’s capital, advocates for the measure say."
This is a big blow to drug policy reform and to marijuana legalization advocates nationwide. Many expected Congress to allow the city's new legalization measure to pass, especially because of the margin by which voters supported legalization.
"Despite saying 'We believe in home rule' for D.C. at a press conference on Friday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), has reportedly signed off on what is being called a 'deal' to let the city continue the policy of decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana," Marijuana.com also reported.
The deal, however, is really no deal at all: Decriminalization is not up for review, as it was enacted this summer. On July 17, the bill was approved by the D.C. council and signed by the Mayor.
For more information, read Marijuana.com's full report and The Washington Post's article.
