Congress Trying to Restrict the Cannabis Industry in Washington, D.C.

The House of Representatives is dominated by the Republican Party. That’s why it is no surprise that the House is working to limit Washington, D.C.’s capability to legalize, manage, and tax cannabis. Having ownership and growing a small amount of marijuana is legal in D.C. after ballot initiatives were voted for by Congress. However, thanks to a member related to Congress, the city is not allowed to spend its own cash to create a cannabis industry, even for adults that have received recommendations for medical marijuana from doctors.

At the moment, Republicans in Congress are looking to generalize the range of the ban to stop D.C. officials from using some type of loophole to get around this by using funds. Under the law, D.C. officials cannot use money that is set to help the cannabis industry. Here is where it says that in the report”

“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 (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative for recreational purposes.”

The exact syntax is a bit ambiguous and still allows for officials to use other cash it has laying around. In fact, officials said in 2015 in an interview that they were considering this. However, because of a new bill, the city would not be able to do such a thing. Here it is:

“No funds available for obligation or expenditure by any officer or employee of the District of Columbia government 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 (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative for recreational purposes.”