Washington, D.C. lawmakers on Tuesday rejected a measure to effectively circumvent a congressional ban on locally legalizing adult-use marijuana sales by allowing adults 21 and older to “self-certify” themselves as medical cannabis patients without needing a doctor’s recommendation. The emergency resolution faced criticism from some advocates over separate provisions that would have cracked down on unlicensed businesses that are using existing policy to “gift” cannabis to people who purchase unrelated products and services. District Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) sponsored the legislation, which is the product of a unique legal and regulatory quandary that the District has found itself in since voters approved the legalization of personal cannabis possession, cultivation, and gifting on the ballot in 2014. Despite strong interest in creating a regulated sales model for cannabis, congressional appropriations legislation has blocked local lawmakers from implementing a system of marijuana commerce.
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 04/05/2022 15:51:00