THE CONSERVATIVE REVIEW - December 16, 2014

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*-- Obama backs D.C. on marijuana legalization --*
WASHINGTON (UPI) - President Barack Obama spoke against Congress inserting of a rider into the $1.1 trillion spending bill blocking D.C. marijuana legalization.

Voters in the District of Columbia passed Initiative 71 in November, legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana and the growing of three plants for recreational use with 69 percent saying "yes" to the law.

If D.C. were a state, Congress wouldn't be able to do anything, but as Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md. -- who has been leading the charge against marijuana legalization in the District -- reminded everyone, "D.C. is not a state."

Under the Home Rule Act of 1973, residents of the District of Columbia can vote for a local council to pass legislation and manage local affairs. However, all matters concerning the D.C. budget are controlled by Congress, allowing them to review and overturn any legislation tied to the budget.

The rider stipulates no district or federal monies can be used in the implementation of the new law. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., the non-voting member of Congress, said the District does not need to spend any money to implement the law and as they cannot tax or regulate it, the law still stands. Republicans in congress disagree, and believe the rider in the bill that passed Thursday is enough to stop it.

Obama supported passage of the spending bill but, as a supporter of D.C. statehood, spoke against Congress meddling in D.C. affairs and disenfranchising voters.

"We do not believe that Congress should spend a lot of time interfering with the ability of the citizens of the District of Columbia to make decisions related to how they should govern their community," White House press secretary Josh Earnest told ABC.

D.C. is often used as a bargaining chip in negotiations between the parties due to its lack of autonomy. In 2011, Obama reportedly told House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, "John, I'll give you D.C. abortion" when trying to reach a budget deal.

That allowed Congress to prohibit D.C. from using federal money to help low-income women in the city obtain an abortion.

There is a movement for D.C. statehood, which the president has publicly supported, but is unlikely to see any progress when the Republicans take control in the 114th Congress.

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