The Drug Policy Alliance has joined over 50 groups in encouraging lawmakers to remove the appropriations rider preventing Washington, D.C., from establishing a regulatory marijuana framework.
The organizations seeking action include those involved in criminal justice reform, liberty, business, and labor industries. Officials from the groups have forwarded correspondence to House and Senate appropriators as well as Senate Majority Leader Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
“We applaud appropriators and leadership in the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) subcommittee across both chambers for its historic removal of this rider earlier this Congress,” the organizations wrote. “It is imperative to both public health, public safety and for Congress’ support of the District’s right to home rule that the removal of the Harris rider is maintained.”
Drug Policy Alliance Senior National Policy Manager Queen Adesuyi recently issued a statement regarding the requested action, noting lawmakers have an opportunity to allow the District to tap into economic, public health, and public safety benefits of legalization like every other state that has reformed its marijuana laws.
“In one hand, Congress continues to make strides in advancing federal marijuana reform grounded in racial justice, while simultaneously being responsible for prohibiting the very jurisdiction that led the country in legalizing marijuana through this lens from being able to regulate it,” Adesuyi said. “This conflict and contradiction must end now. We look forward to working with them to finally bring this injustice to a close and ensure D.C. residents’ voice and vote are respected.”
The organizations concluded in the correspondence that it is time for Congress to support the District of Columbia’s right to self-determination by lifting the rider.