Congressional Spending Bill Blocks D.C. From Legalizing Marijuana [View all]

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.

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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.