Pubdate: Fri, 12 Dec 2014
Source: Trentonian, The (NJ)
Copyright: 2014 The Trentonian
Contact:  http://www.trentonian.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1006
Page: 47
Note: Editorial from The Washington Post

SPENDING BILL BLOCKS DC'S MARIJUANA INITIATIVE

The federal spending bill now pending before Congress includes a 
provision that bars the Justice Department from spending any money to 
undermine state medical marijuana laws. It also includes an amendment 
that prohibits the Drug Enforcement Administration from interfering 
with a federal law that allows industrial hemp research in states 
that have approved it.

But for the District of Columbia and its effort to legalize 
marijuana, it's a different story, with Congress showing no shame or 
compunction in trying to upend local authority. The hypocrisy is 
stunning even by the standards of Capitol Hill.

"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, use, or distribution of any schedule 
I substance under the Controlled Substances Act," reads a rider that 
targets the initiative approved by Washington voters to allow 
possession and growth of small amounts of marijuana. Attorneys for 
the city were examining the language to see if, as Del. Eleanor 
Holmes Norton, D-D.C., argued, it might contain a loophole that would 
allow the city to forge ahead with legalization. It appears that 
decriminalization of marijuana, which went into effect in the 
District in July, won't be affected.

The inclusion of this noxious rider in the giant, must-pass spending 
bill came at the instigation of House Republicans, but the real blame 
falls on the White House and Senate Democrats who give lip service to 
the District's home rule but don't think twice about selling it out. 
"I'm opposed to what the House is trying to do," Senate Majority 
Leader Harry M. Reid, D-Nev., said Tuesday of the measure as he sent 
a signal that he pretty much planned to sit on his hands. "If they 
put it in there, it's going to be hard to take it out over here."

So just as they did three years ago with abortions for low-income 
women, Democrats are prepared to take the path of least resistance. 
They - and the Republican sponsors of the marijuana measure - are 
further empowering those who see the District as a place to score 
political points and not as a home to Americans who should have the 
right to self-determination.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom