From VOX.com (not Fox)
http://www.vox.com/2014/12/9/7360463/weed-legalization-washington-dc
"Republican and Democratic congressional leaders reportedly reached a deal to block marijuana legalization from taking effect in Washington, DC, according to the DC Cannabis Campaign and Drug Policy Alliance.
Congressional offices couldn't be immediately reached to confirm or deny the reports.
DC's legalization initiative got more than 69 percent of the vote in November. But ballot initiatives, like all DC laws, must get congressional approval to become law, and they can be blocked through congressional budgetary requirements.
DC's marijuana legalization measure would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, grow up to six plants, and give marijuana to other adults 21 and older.
The measure wouldn't legalize, regulate, or tax sales, because voter initiatives in DC can't have a direct impact on the local budget.
Marijuana legalization will remain in place in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, since Congress doesn't have the authority to terminate those states' laws.
Congress can block any of DC's laws
Through the Home Rule Act of 1973, Washington, DC, can elect a sitting local government composed of a council, mayor, and other local agencies. But the Home Rule Act also made it so each law passed by the local government requires congressional approval — and Congress can still block DC's laws through budgetary requirements, as they are doing with the legalization measure.
Congress previously used this authority to block DC from implementing a medical marijuana law for nearly 12 years. Federal lawmakers have also prevented DC from using local tax dollars to fund abortion services and life-saving clean needle exchange programs.
The measure would prevent DC Council from approving legalization
The House Republicans' provision would block DC from using local and federal funds to carry out the voter-approved legalization measure.
At first glance, this might seem like a weird approach. DC's legalization initiative costs nothing; it actually saves the district money to not enforce laws against marijuana possession. The ballot measure actually couldn't cost money in the first place, since DC ballot initiatives, by law, can't have a direct impact on the local budget.
But the congressional appropriations bill would prohibit DC Council from spending its time and resources to approve the legalization initiative and send it to Congress. Under federal law, that's a necessary step for legalization to take effect.
This would also block a tax-and-regulate bill, which Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser supports, since that would have an even more direct effect on the local budget.
Decriminalization would remain in place
Although legalization wouldn't take effect on the reported congressional deal, decriminalization already became law in the district back in July.
The decriminalization law removes criminal penalties for the possession of marijuana, but it keeps a $25 civil fine in place and bans the public use of pot. The legalization initiative, in contrast, would essentially repeal the fine and completely legalize the possession, gifting, and growing of marijuana.
The deal reportedly reached by congressional leaders keeps decriminalization intact but blocks full legalization. But as Tom Angell of the pro-legalization Marijuana Majority pointed out, the decriminalization law couldn't have been defunded by an appropriations bill since it already took effect — meaning that this deal isn't much of a deal at all for marijuana advocates.
"It's beyond infuriating that Democrats would make a 'deal' to protect something that was untouchable," Angell wrote in an email."
Why does that surprise me...cough...cough.
http://www.vox.com/2014/12/9/7360463/weed-legalization-washington-dc
"Republican and Democratic congressional leaders reportedly reached a deal to block marijuana legalization from taking effect in Washington, DC, according to the DC Cannabis Campaign and Drug Policy Alliance.
Congressional offices couldn't be immediately reached to confirm or deny the reports.
DC's legalization initiative got more than 69 percent of the vote in November. But ballot initiatives, like all DC laws, must get congressional approval to become law, and they can be blocked through congressional budgetary requirements.
DC's marijuana legalization measure would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, grow up to six plants, and give marijuana to other adults 21 and older.
The measure wouldn't legalize, regulate, or tax sales, because voter initiatives in DC can't have a direct impact on the local budget.
Marijuana legalization will remain in place in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, since Congress doesn't have the authority to terminate those states' laws.
Congress can block any of DC's laws
Through the Home Rule Act of 1973, Washington, DC, can elect a sitting local government composed of a council, mayor, and other local agencies. But the Home Rule Act also made it so each law passed by the local government requires congressional approval — and Congress can still block DC's laws through budgetary requirements, as they are doing with the legalization measure.
Congress previously used this authority to block DC from implementing a medical marijuana law for nearly 12 years. Federal lawmakers have also prevented DC from using local tax dollars to fund abortion services and life-saving clean needle exchange programs.
The measure would prevent DC Council from approving legalization
The House Republicans' provision would block DC from using local and federal funds to carry out the voter-approved legalization measure.
At first glance, this might seem like a weird approach. DC's legalization initiative costs nothing; it actually saves the district money to not enforce laws against marijuana possession. The ballot measure actually couldn't cost money in the first place, since DC ballot initiatives, by law, can't have a direct impact on the local budget.
But the congressional appropriations bill would prohibit DC Council from spending its time and resources to approve the legalization initiative and send it to Congress. Under federal law, that's a necessary step for legalization to take effect.
This would also block a tax-and-regulate bill, which Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser supports, since that would have an even more direct effect on the local budget.
Decriminalization would remain in place
Although legalization wouldn't take effect on the reported congressional deal, decriminalization already became law in the district back in July.
The decriminalization law removes criminal penalties for the possession of marijuana, but it keeps a $25 civil fine in place and bans the public use of pot. The legalization initiative, in contrast, would essentially repeal the fine and completely legalize the possession, gifting, and growing of marijuana.
The deal reportedly reached by congressional leaders keeps decriminalization intact but blocks full legalization. But as Tom Angell of the pro-legalization Marijuana Majority pointed out, the decriminalization law couldn't have been defunded by an appropriations bill since it already took effect — meaning that this deal isn't much of a deal at all for marijuana advocates.
"It's beyond infuriating that Democrats would make a 'deal' to protect something that was untouchable," Angell wrote in an email."
Why does that surprise me...cough...cough.
I wonder how many times to the moon and back you could stack those $1 bills. 
