Will Congress back D.C. Marijuana Legalization?

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on November 13, 2014.

Although the D.C. voters overwhelmingly backed Initiative 71, which legalizes possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana for people aged 21 and above and allows cultivation of four cannabis plants at home, it is the U.S. Congress, which will take a final decision whether to approve this legalization process or not. The Congress has 60 days to review the legislation. But, it remains to be seen whether the House will take up the matter on priority to pass the bill during this limited period.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), one of the most conservative politicians, joined hands with a group of Democrats to urge the Congress to allow the legalization of marijuana to go into effect in District of Columbia, the nation's capital. Democratic Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Jared Polis (Colo.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia) too supported the legalization of marijuana.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) strongly vouched for recreational marijuana, saying the record shows that no one has ever died from marijuana overdose. These Congressmen joined hands to put pressure on their colleagues to follow the footsteps of Colorado, Washington State, Oregon and Alaska to allow use of recreational marijuana. "Let's not waste tax dollars and oppress people with big government," he said. "Let's leave these issues up to the states and strike a blow for liberty," said Dana Rohrabacher from California, the state which had rejected the move to legalize recreational use of pot.

Holmes Norton made an emotional appeal to the House to respect the D.C. marijuana legalization initiative, saying that came straight from the votes of two-thirds of the people of the district. Rohrabacher urged the Congressmen to end political opposition and look into the practicality before taking any decision.

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