Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Washington DC on collision course with Congress over marijuana legalisation
With the recent passing of initiative 71 which would decriminalize marijauna in Washington D.C., the issues of Washington DC's lack of representation and the power of congress to control public funds in the city has reared it's ugly head. Do you feel that congress should have that kind of control over the city? Or do you feel that the city should be able to enact such an initiative without interference from congressmen from other states?
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Already being approved by voters, I feel like it's unfair to try and repeal initiative 71. 70% were in favor, and they deserve their win. I agree that congress shouldn't spend a lot of time intervening in DC's affairs, just because they are located there. This should be left to the people, in which, they have already won. I love the stance Obama has taken on the issue, and I feel that congress should focus on something more serious than marijuana.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what Rachel wrote. If nearly 70% of people living in DC want to legalize marajuana and they voted to do so then Congress should not try to fight it. Although I don't necessarily agree with the legalization of marajuana, legalizing it is a stance that many states have taken and I'm sure there are more pressing issues to be concerned with.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jamie that there are many more issues that should be focused on, especially in DC. By trying to prevent something that was already voted on from happening, the government is adding to its high political dysfunction. The results of the election were extremely clear; there is no question what the people of DC want and took the time to vote for. I also agree with Peaches that Obama took a great position on the issue.
ReplyDeleteMany states have already decriminalized marijuana and have had good results with it. If the public votes overall that marijuana should be decriminalized, then just let it happen, especially since we have real life examples of what would happen if we did. I completely agree that Congress should focus on more pressing issues than trying to fight against the majority. Sometimes it just feels like Congress tries to fight against the small things instead of focusing on the serious issues.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I feel like the legalization of marijuana cannot be solved on a state by state basis. As the article states, someone who lives in one state can "totally hook their friend up." If there is a state in which it is illegal right next to a state where it is illegal, issues with the law are going to arise and there will definitely be long drawn out and expensive legal battle to come. There are clear studies that marijuana has an extremely negative effect on a brain that has not fully developed yet. While I am totally for allowing medical marijuana use, I just do not see how legalizing it provides any benefit to society. If we allow people to start "cultivating plants" in their homes, it is going to end up in the hands of people under 21 (whose brains have not fully developed) and cause damage. Maybe if Washington wasn't so polarized, it wouldn't be difficult to deal with it on a federal level. But since congress can't seem to do anything, I am a loss at the correct path forward.
ReplyDeleteCongress does have oversight over Washington's affairs. If it wants to use this right as it sees fit, that's fine. It's controversial and won't really help Congress's approval rating but it can be done.
ReplyDeleteHowever, what boggles my mind is that a few members of Congress might challenge an initiative that has the support of 70% of DC voters when there are several other more pressing national issues.
There are plenty of other things that Congress should be focused on rather than this. If over 70% of the voters in DC are for the legalization of marijuana and the bill passed, why try to undo it? Like Carolanne said, that just adds to the political dysfunction we see today.
ReplyDeleteWhy try to stop the vote of the majority? Many states have legalized already and they seem to be doing fine. Like Jaime said, there are definitely more pressing matters that Congress should be dealing with than fighting against a 70% vote.
ReplyDeleteI agree with much of the sentiment here. While Congress has jurisdiction over DC, the initiative passed with 70% of the vote. I don't see how it would be democratic to just reject what the people of DC overwhelming voted for, even if it is against what some members of Congress believe. They do not represent DC and thus I don't see how it really is their business to interfere in DC's internal affairs. As has been said before there are more pressing national issues that Congress should be addressing over this local one. Trying to pick a fight over this distracts Congress from these more important national issue and contributes of the dysfunction it already has.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emily. There are much more pressing matters that Congress should be dealing with than the legalization of Marijuana in D.C. I do not oppose the legalization of marijuana, and it is a bit unfair to the 70% of D.C. residents who said they want to legalize the drug. However, I don't think a spending bill should be held up solely because it makes it hard for citizens of D.C. to access a privilege.
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