Nearly twelve years after 69 percent of voters passed a medical marijuana initiative, federal obstructions have been lifted and the D.C. Council has passed legislation that will protect patients in Washington, D.C.
The new law leaves many critical details to the discretion of both the mayor’s office and the Department of Health. Issues such as limits on the number of grow houses, qualifying medical conditions, and patient access can still be improved before this law goes into effect!
Drug policy reform and harm reduction advocates are hopeful that an effective medical marijuana program in the nation’s capital will advance remedial federal legislation. Despite over a dozen states now permitting medical marijuana, federal law both obstructs research concerning marijuana and prohibits marijuana use.
The delay in permitting medical marijuana was a result of direct Congressional intervention, which recently was lifted.
