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    The Noble RenardGabrielle Bluestone
    2/10/15 1:00pm

    I think the Maryland Rep who wrote this particularly inane amendment shot himself in the foot here. The word "enact" has a very clear meaning. Black's Law Dictionary defines "enact" as "1. To make into law by authoritative act; to pass (the statute was enacted shortly before the announced deadline)." Dictionary.com defines it as "to make into an act or statute."

    Basically, if the amendment says the City Council cannot use funds to 'enact' the law, then the amendment doesn't have any effect; the law is already enacted, by every definition of the word enact. If Andy Harris had been smarter, he would have blocked the District from using funds for something like "ongoing support" or whatever, but he wrote "enact" and since the law is already enacted Andy Harris failed at getting his grubby hands into the District's autonomy.

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      The Noble RenardThe Noble Renard
      2/10/15 1:11pm

      To expand on my previous post, Andy Harris's amendment read forbid the District government from using any funds "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" controlled substance. That means there are two operative verbs at issue: "enact" and "carry out".

      As for "enact," as I mentioned in my previous post, there is really no good textual analysis that "enact" means anything other than its common definition, and therefore DC's law was likely enacted prior to the passage of Rep. Harris's amendment.

      As for "carry out," I think the DC government also has a good argument here, which is likely that a law which legalizes something does not need any funds to "carry out," because once the law is properly enacted and the substance is legal, there is nothing to carry out; the substance is simply legal, no government action required further. Under that reading, possibly the only things that the the "carry out" language could actually effect would be things like printing up a new version of the DC Municipal Code with the right language, or conducting city-wide education campaigns to highlight the legality of <2oz of marijuana.

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      FauxhemianRhapshodyThe Noble Renard
      2/10/15 1:34pm

      Dumb question- is it an enactment if it's due to a voter referendum?

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    UrbanNunEnthusiastGabrielle Bluestone
    2/10/15 12:51pm

    Lol "party of small government" and whatnot...

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      Joe TwelvepackUrbanNunEnthusiast
      2/10/15 12:53pm

      Don't forget "states rights"

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      CleverUsernameJoe Twelvepack
      2/10/15 1:12pm

      "DC isn't a state!"

      -People who don't get it.

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    Syphilitic Scalia SaysGabrielle Bluestone
    2/10/15 1:01pm

    Gabrielle, the word is "fucknuckle" for Rep. Andy Harris, the Tea Bagger asshole from Maryland who made it his mission when he was elected to block any and all attempts for the District and it's citizens to decide their own laws about marijuana.

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      LPSheaGabrielle Bluestone
      2/10/15 12:55pm

      I suspect Congress knew this loophole existed with they passed the bill. A win win for all. They get to look tough for their War on Drugs and now they also have easier access to some killer bud.

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        ManchuCandidateLPShea
        2/10/15 12:57pm

        You're giving them more credit than they deserve.

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      AndouilletteGabrielle Bluestone
      2/10/15 12:56pm

      Silly district, rights are for states!

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        CleverUsernameGabrielle Bluestone
        2/10/15 1:15pm

        DC seems like the dog that gets kicked when the Republicans get angry.

        ETA: Still gray. Sigh.

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          EatTheCheeseNicholsonGabrielle Bluestone
          2/10/15 1:18pm

          So vaccination should be a personal choice, but buying some weed shouldn't be. Riiiiiiiiight.

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            RexxyGabrielle Bluestone
            2/10/15 2:24pm

            A washington DC post and not one comment from the "Taxis are rapists, Uber is the bomb" social media force that usually shows up?

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