Congress May Block DC's Marijuana Law

Voters in DC have made clear that they want marijuana to be legal in the district, but some members of Congress hope to overrule them. An amendment now on the table amid budget negotiations would block legalization in DC by prohibiting federal and local funds from enforcing it, reports Roll Call. A Republican with much clout, House Appropriations Committee chief Harold Rogers, hates the idea of relaxing drug laws anywhere, largely because of the meth and prescription-drug abuses in his home state of Kentucky, reports the National Journal.

Whether Rogers' camp can succeed, though, is very much in question. Democrats including Barbara Mikulski, chair of the Senate appropriations panel, oppose the marijuana rider. And as Michael Collins of the Drug Policy Alliance says, “The omnibus negotiations are not going to break down over disagreement over the DC initiative.” (More Washington, DC stories.)