Lost Opportunity: Senate Committee Blocks D.C. Recreational Cannabis Sales Again
A Senate committee has dashed hopes for legalized recreational cannabis sales in Washington, D.C. The committee approved a spending bill that keeps a controversial rider in place. This decision prevents D.C. from using local tax dollars to implement a system for adult-use cannabis sales, despite voter support for legalization in 2014.
What Happened?
Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) spending bill. The bill maintains the rider blocking D.C. from regulating recreational cannabis sales. Advocates had hoped for change when the House version of the bill initially omitted this rider, removing the longstanding prohibition on Washington, …