House Passes Bill To Keep Blocking Washington, D.C. From Legalizing Marijuana Sales
U.S. House Passes Spending Bill Continuing D.C. Cannabis Sales Ban
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a spending bill that contains a provision to continue blocking Washington, D.C. from legalizing recreational marijuana sales, while also warning local officials about approving cannabis dispensaries near schools.
Legislative Details
The appropriations legislation—covering Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) as well as the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026—was approved on the floor in a vote of 341-79 on Wednesday.
A report attached to the legislation also contains a section directing federal officials to submit a report on Chinese-linked drug syndicates that operate illicit cannabis grows.
The "Harris Rider" and Local Impact
The District has long been barred from allowing regulated adult-use marijuana sales under a spending bill rider led by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), despite voters approving the legalization of possession and personal cultivation back in 2014.
In a report published in 2024, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) noted that while federal cannabis prohibition remains the law of the land even if rescheduled, the reform:
“...would permit the District government, as a matter of local law, to authorize the commercial sale of recreational marijuana, establish market regulations, and levy marijuana taxes, among other policy options.”
Current Complications
There is a significant complication, however, because the congressional rider stipulates that the District of Columbia cannot use funds to legalize or reduce penalties for “any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative.” This remains a point of contention and confusion, as that specific term is not clearly defined in the rider or anywhere else in federal law.
