Wednesday, December 3, 2014

This Is Funny, No Matter What You Believe

Can House Republicans "defund" marijuana legalization in DC if it doesn't cost anything?

Rep. John Mica (R-FL) holds up a fake joint during a congressional hearing on DC's marijuana decriminalization law.

  1. House Republicans want to block a marijuana legalization law in Washington, DC, that local voters overwhelmingly passed in November, multiple Democratic and Republican sources reportedly told the National Journal.
  2. The House language would ban DC from using local funds to carry out the legalization measure, according to the report.
  3. DC's marijuana legalization measure allows adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, grow up to six plants, and give marijuana to other adults 21 and older.
  4. The measure doesn't legalize, regulate, or tax sales, because voter initiatives in DC can't have a direct impact on the local budget.

The House Republican measure might not work

marijuana plant
A marijuana plant. (Shutterstock)
The House provision would block DC from using local funds to carry out its legalization measure. The problem with this idea is DC's legalization initiative costs nothing; it actually saves the district money to not enforce laws against marijuana possession.
The ballot measure actually couldn't cost money in the first place. DC ballot initiatives, by law, can't have a direct impact on the local budget.

Me Thinks there is a reading comprehension issue in the House...talk about structural education issues. This is Saturday Night Live shit!