The U.S. congressman who inserted language in the omnibus spending bill to block Washington, D.C.’s marijuana legalization ballot initiative says it doesn’t violate the principle of state’s rights.
“D.C.’s not a state,” Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) told a few reporters in the Capitol on Wednesday, in response to a question by TPM.
“I’m sorry, it’s not a state!” he laughed.
Harris said his rider “prevents the ultimate enactment of the ballot initiative” passed by D.C. voters last month to legalize pot.
“Congress will have taken a position that the ballot initiative — legalization, not decriminalization or medical use, which is allowed under the omnibus language — that going forward, the legalization effort has to stop. Because no monies can be expended, either federal monies or district monies,” he said.
The Constitution gives Congress great authority over the local affairs of the District of Columbia.
Asked what motivated him to push for the provision, Harris said he’s dealt with addicted patients in his practice at Johns Hopkins for 30 years.
“It’s just not a good decision, and Congress disagrees,” he said.
Congressional leaders are aiming to pass the bill by the end of this week.
Another “small government” Republican (Except when it comes to the District of Columbia, women’s rights, military spending, death penalty, etc)
Sounds like Emperor talk to me! Screw that majority of DC residents who voted for marijuana legalization. I a representative from another state will tell you whats right for you. The irony is certainly lost on this congressthug, that his party which constantly whines for big government to get out of their tea party lives, immediately moves to deny the rights of thousands of other Americans…or I guess maybe he views them as lesser Americans…
“Asked what motivated him to push for the provision, Harris said he’s dealt with addicted patients in his practice at Johns Hopkins for 30 years.”
What he left unsaid: “…and I loathe them and consider them subhuman.”
No taxation without representation…unless you’re black. In which case you should just be grateful to have any freedom at all.
I really loathe people who act like they’re anti-legalization because they want to discourage bad habits, since they never really admit to what policy they’re advocating: Locking people up and ruining their lives.
They talk as if criminalization is just like putting a frowny face on drugs, in order to express their disapproval. As if this were all just a symbolic war we’re fighting, like a battle of the minds. And if that were the case, I wouldn’t have a problem at all with what they’re doing. But that’s all part of their denial system, since they don’t want to acknowledge how dangerous their policies are. Or how the vast majority of problems associated with drugs are caused by anti-drug laws and not drugs themselves.
And beyond that, if this bozo has been treating marijuana addicts at Johns Hopkins for 30 years, he needs his license revoked. Seriously.