The White House revealed a budget request on Monday that proposes scaling back restrictive language that has prevented Washington, D.C. from spending its own money to legalize and regulate the sale of recreational marijuana.
It was in 2014 that D.C. voters had approved a ballot measure that makes it legal to posses and grow small amounts of marijuana. However, there is no way for people to buy the drug outside of medical dispensaries.
President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget request asks Congress to loose the restrictive language so there may be a workaround on the table as an option.
The request states:
“SEC. 809. (a) None of the Federal funds contained in this Act may be used to enact or carry out any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties associated with the possession, use, or distribution of any schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative.
“(b) None of the funds contained in this Act may be used to enact any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties associated with the possession, use, or distribution of any schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative for recreational purposes.”