Legalization of Medical Marijuana in D.C

The possibility of legalizing medical marijuana in the District of Columbia has come up due to the $447 billion spending bill approved Sunday. Within the bill it allows Washington D.C to use local money to implement a medical marijuana measure approved in 1998. This is resurrecting an effort that was blocked because of a rider blocking money to actualize the measure. The house has passed the bill and it has been moved on to President Obama who is expected to sign it this coming week.

While the possibility of legalizing medical marijuana is high, a few problems still stand in the way. The cautious City Council and further interference from congress may slow down the process of the legislation getting finalized. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray believes it is too early to predict what will happen because this has been silent since 11 years ago. Because there is also a chance of federal lawmakers reimposing the budget rider, the advocates of legalization are planning to avoid congress and go straight to regulating medical use of the drug through rulemaking.

It seems like at the federal level people are less likely to approve issues relating to matters like drugs. Medical Marijuana is already legalized in some states like California; there should be no problem if state governments believe their state should legalize the drug. If no prominent problems are found in states that have already legalized it, why not? It is apparent Congress does not want the country’s capital to represent legal marijuana, but the district of Columbia does.