[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3253]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               MARIJUANA LAWS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

  (Ms. NORTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, there is a bit of a dustup over D.C.'s new 
marijuana reform law. D.C. has never defied the Congress, although it 
has been tempting, especially several times when the Federal Government 
shut down, shutting down the District with it, although the District, 
of course, is no part of these disputes.
  The majority language in the appropriation bill said that the 
District couldn't enact marijuana laws. The law was enacted before that 
language was passed. When approved by the voters, there was nothing 
further to be done. Small amounts of marijuana became legal in the 
District, smoked in private. On Thursday, D.C. has taken no further 
official action, and is in compliance with the law as passed by 
Congress.
  The most important impetus for passage by residents was two 
independent studies that showed that virtually all of those who now 
carry marijuana arrests are young African Americans. That was the last 
straw for a substance that is de facto legal for most Americans.
  D.C. passage is neutral on its face. It doesn't recommend the 
substance. We ought to have the same liberty other Americans already 
enjoy on this substance.

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