WASHINGTON — A controversial provision meant to restrict the District of Columbia from creating a commercial market for marijuana sales is absent from the first draft of a major government spending bill for the first time since 2014.
Known commonly as the ‘Harris Rider’, aptly named for Maryland Republican Congressman Andy Harris, the provision has prevented D.C. from being able to legalize the sale of marijuana. The provision has been added to the federal budget every year since 2014, which was the same year District voters overwhelmingly approved Initiative 71 which legalized possession and personal use of marijuana in small amounts.
When Initiative 71 took effect in 2015, small marijuana dispensaries began to operate with a gifting system; an item of value was sold to a customer, and an amount of marijuana less than two ounces was then “gifted” to the customer.
‼️ HUGE NEWS about the possibility of commercial marijuana sales in DC.
The ‘Harris Rider’ is ABSENT from a budget proposal released today by @HouseAppropsGOP
Meaning, the federal rider preventing commercial weed sales in DC since 2014 is GONE.
For now.
“I think this is kind of the first indication that Congress may be taking the yolk off the District’s neck with respect to drug policy,” said D.C. attorney Meredith Kinner. “This is a very big deal. The District has had to contort its medical program to be as inclusive as possible. This will be the first step toward allowing the District to control its own destiny with respect to cannabis.”
It’s important to note that this is the very first step in the lengthy federal budgeting process. An amendment could be added to the bill re-inserting the language about D.C. and it’s possible Senate appropriators could add it in as well.
Current funding for the federal government expires on September 30 and if lawmakers don’t pass a new budget by that date a government shutdown would ensue.
Historically, when legislators feel they will fail to meet a budget deadline, they will sometimes pass what’s known as a ‘continuing resolution’, or CR, which extends all the provisions of a previously approved budget bill to a newly established deadline.
H/T: www.wusa9.com
