Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD). (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD). (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

As D.C. officials and advocates scramble to deal with the fallout from a poorly written rider that may prevent the city from implementing marijuana legalization, our bud Andy Harris has made a shocking discovery: D.C. is not a state.

“D.C.’s not a state,” the Maryland Representative told reporters on Capitol Hill in response to a question about violating the rights of D.C. residents. “I’m sorry, it’s not a state!” he said with a laugh, according to Talking Points Memo.

Apparently, this is the attitude his staff has as well.

Harris is responsible for the language in the massive Congressional spending bill that the House Appropriations Committee says would prevent D.C. from enacting Initiative 71, which 65 percent of local voters approved.

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton doesn’t see it that way, and today introduced an amendment [PDF] to strike language that blocks the city from spending local funds on marijuana legalization and abortion.

“Based on a plain reading of the bill and principles of statutory interpretation, it is arguable that the rider does not block D.C. from carrying out its marijuana legalization initiative,” Norton said in testimony introducing an amendment to rid the omnibus of the rider. “The House-passed D.C. marijuana rider, introduced by Representative Andy Harris, and the omnibus D.C. marijuana rider are not identical. Unlike the Harris rider, the omnibus rider does not block D.C. from ‘carrying out; enacted marijuana policies. D.C.’s Initiative 71, it can be argued, was enacted when it was approved overwhelmingly by voters in November and was self-executing — i.e., it did not require enactment of any rules for its implementation. Therefore, it can be argued that the legalization of small amounts of marijuana can proceed.”

Norton has the support of Rep. José E. Serrano from New York. “Based on this premise, the government of the District of Columbia should be able to move forward with the legalization of marijuana despite the rider included in the omnibus bill,” he said in a release. “That said, to clear up any confusion on the issue, I also fully support Congresswoman Norton’s efforts to offer an amendment in the House Rules’ Committee today to strike the rider and to help ensure Washington DC’s local laws and regulations ultimately prevail.”

Filed Under: andy harris, eleanor holmes norton, marijuana laws,