Washington, DC, could soon be able to realize its legal cannabis plans

353 0

A preview of the federal budget implies Congress might allow DC to set up its cannabis market

Cannabis policy is barely mentioned in the annual spending packages recently released by the Senate Appropriations Committee, but even so, by omission, it could advance a critical element of reform that both NRML and other allies have been pushing for quite some time. In the FY22 General Government and Financial Services spending bill, the House Appropriations Committee omitted an existing provision that prevents Washington, DC, from implementing an adult-use cannabis consumer market. Plans for legal cannabis may soon be known in this region.

Through a 2014 voter initiative, the District of Columbia was able to legalize marijuana possession and home cultivation; however, the local government has been unable to use its resources to create a licensed and transparent commercial sales program due to the imposition of a Congressional budget rider. At the time, Joe Biden administration’s proposed spending package was released earlier this year, it was noticeable how the budget included this restriction.

DC Representative and cannabis policy reform advocate Eleanor Holmes Norton stated, “I am having a hard time reconciling the administration’s strong support for D.C. statehood, which would give D.C. not only voting representation in Congress but also full local self-government, with a budget that prohibits D.C. from spending its local funds on recreational marijuana commercialization. With Democrats controlling the White House, House and Senate, we have the best opportunity in over a decade to enact a D.C. appropriations bill that does not contain any anti-home-rule riders.”

Unlike other states, the District cannot challenge the federal government’s marijuana prohibition policies since it lacks statehood and is under direct congressional oversight.