Hold Your Fire! GOP Threatens To Un-Legalize Weed In D.C.
[su_right_ad]Many Washington D.C. residents were elated at the news that marijuana was legalized in the nation’s capital. But Republicans, never one to bend to the will of voters, are saying not so fast for those freedom loving tokers.
Among the first in line to make a federal case out of D.C.’s marijuana initiative will be Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), a congressman ranked by Drug Policy Action as one of three “2014 Drug Policy Extremists,” who warned even before the ballot initiative’s passage that, “If legalization passes, I will consider using all resources available to a member of Congress to stop this action.”
Supporters of legalization and those who simply respect election results are already mobilizing for the battle to smoke mad trees in Washington D.C.
The District is ready for the fight. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) issued a statement after the vote warning, “opponents who meddle with D.C.’s new marijuana legalization law will get the fight of their lives” — although Norton doesn’t have full voting power in Congress as a representative of the District of Columbia, while her opponents from actual states do. [su_csky_ad]
arc99 November 6th, 2014 at 11:50 am
I was born and raised in Washington DC. Still have family there. This is the kind of sh*t that has been going on all my life which is why I have very little sympathy for right wingers whining about government.
The residents of the District could not vote for President until the 23rd amendment was ratified in 1961. They still have no voting representation in Congress, and of course it is all about politics as right wing Republicans will make sure that we never add a House seat and two Senate seats that would be eternally safe seats for liberal Democrats.
Washington National Airport was renamed by Congress to honor Ronald Reagan contrary to the wishes of the local governing authorities in DC, Maryland and Virginia. So this latest development does not surprise me at all. Nor does it surprise me that we have the latest example of Republican hypocrisy. Congress treats the District like a fiefdom where the desires of the people who actually live there, are summarily dismissed. At the same time, they go back home and rail against the excesses of government
Political institutions that other communities take for granted, did not even exist in DC until I was in junior high school when we finally achieved some level of home rule and for the first time had a mayor and a city council.
The residents of the District have expressed their will. The legalization measure was approved by 69% of the voters. Congress should respect the will of the people.
greenfloyd November 6th, 2014 at 12:06 pm
Right on! DC voters and Rep. Norton have been down this road before and will not relent to these drug war fascists. And, here’s a really big-stick for the Ds to use against the Rs.
Larry Schmitt November 6th, 2014 at 12:36 pm
Respect the will of the people? Why should they start now? The Heritage Foundation, in 2009, when Senate Bill 1257 was being considered, gave this as a solution: ” It should be noted that District residents-unlike the American colonists, who had little choice in the face of British denial of representation-have always had the option to move to other U.S. jurisdictions, like Maryland or Virginia, where they could enjoy full representation in Congress.” In other words, if you don’t like it, move. That’s what the cons think of District residents.
Larry Schmitt November 6th, 2014 at 11:51 am
Because their own districts are squeaky clean, with zero unemployment, and no poor people, and no one on SNAP, so they have plenty of time to meddle in the affairs of the citizens of DC, who don’t even have representation.
Guy Lauten November 6th, 2014 at 12:14 pm
… and here we go. Now that the GOPsters believe they can do whatever they want, they will abrogate the wishes of the public over and over again. By the time another election rolls around people will be so sick of their repressive policies there will be another blood bath, this time with the GOP on the hook. And the cycle starts all over again. What a great way to run an airline.
tiredoftea November 6th, 2014 at 12:19 pm
Another example of what “small government” means to the right.
crc3 November 6th, 2014 at 1:19 pm
Screw the Repulsives. I’ll blow smoke right in their face if they F with me!!!
Suzanne McFly November 6th, 2014 at 1:22 pm
More proof the right just wants to govern a miserable population.
tracey marie November 6th, 2014 at 1:48 pm
The laws passed that take rights, RIGHTS away from people is backed by the goptp types. Laws that harm no one are fought against by the same insane types
Pistol-Packing AKA "Susie" November 6th, 2014 at 3:26 pm
So let me get this straight. “One” congressmen has stated he will fight this, and yet it gets referred to as the GOP…. SMDH….
ChrisVosburg November 6th, 2014 at 4:07 pm
As the brief summary above notes, Susan, Harris is merely the “first in line.” Others likely to kick up a fuss, based on previous behaviors, are mentioned further down if you’d care to read the linked article.
But there’s nothing surprising here about this partisan historical opposition, unless perhaps the slow but sure migration of more Republicans across the aisle to vote for more lenient marijuana legislation.
incidentally, keep an eye out for the hot new girl group I’m producing. Hopefully the first single will be out before the end of the year, and we’ve finally decided on a group name:
Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing the Pistol-Packing Susies.
Um Cara November 7th, 2014 at 10:33 am
*But there’s nothing surprising here about this partisan historical opposition*
———-
Nothing partisan about cannabis being illegal. The Obama administration has certainly caged its fair share of folks for various cannabis offenses & does not call for legalization.
It’s a bi-partisan cage-fest!
arc99 November 6th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
It is not just “one” Congressman.
It is one Congressman who serves on the House Appropriations Committee which has the authority to block federal funding for the District of Columbia