Congress May Stop Marijuana Legalization in D.C.

Initiative 71 for the legalization of marijuana was passed in D.C., but supporters may have to put the celebrations on hold.

A federal spending bill was introduced that, if passed, would invalidate the more than 69 percent of D.C. votes that supported the initiative in the November election.

According to The Washington Post, three budget negotiators have agreed to cut costs and block Initiative 71. The bill would not allow the District to use its money on a new drug law for the rest of the fiscal year.

“If Congress really has concerns, why don’t they sit down and talk with us instead of these high profile moves that are very dramatic?” D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson told the Post.

Should marijuana be legalized in D.C.? What about across the U.S.? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

So why is D.C.’s marijuana legalization in jeopardy but Alaska and Oregon, where similar initiatives were passed on the same day, are the clear? The District is a federal jurisdiction, not a state, so Congress must approve all laws.

Image via Shutterstock

Read more:

D.C. Legalizes Marijuana in 2014 Election

D.C. Bans Pre-Employment Marijuana Testing

How the District Voted on Marijuana Legalization