The White House scolded Congress Thursday for meddling with the District of Columbia’s recent vote to legalize marijuana, saying federal lawmakers shouldn’t “interfere” in the matter.
Within the $1.1 trillion bipartisan budget package that has emerged on Capitol Hill is a provision essentially blocking D.C.’s move toward legalized marijuana. It prohibits the use of funds to implement drug laws that are weaker than those at the federal level.
A D.C. ballot measure to legalize marijuana passed during last month’s elections.
President Obama is prepared to sign the broader budget bill, but officials say the D.C. marijuana provision is misguided and wrong.
“We do not believe Congress should spend a lot of time interfering with the ability of the citizens of the District of Columbia to make decisions on how they should govern their community,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters. “The president believes, on principle, that members of Congress shouldn’t be interfering in this way.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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