1998 Washington, D.C., Initiative 59

Ballot measure in Washington, D.C., legalizing medical cannabis "Barr Amendment" section spliced in from other article, needs improved focus and flow. February 2015 February 2025 Initiative 59 "Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative of 1998. 75536 34621 110157 1998 DC Initiative 59 results by ward.svg Ward results Yes #47729E 70–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid #7D9CBB 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid right|300px|thumb|NORML members protest in Lafayette Park across from the White House during the annual July 4th "Smoke-In" in 2000. Initiative 59 was a voter-approved ballot initiative in Washington, D.C., that sought to legalize medical cannabis. The short title of the initiative was "Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative of 1998".Ballot Initiative 59 https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/dcelections/races/dcq59.htm The Washington Post 2017-06-02 Though the initiative passed with 69% of the vote in November 1998, its implementation was delayed by Congress's passage of the Barr Amendment, which prohibited DC from using its funds in support of the program. This Amendment delayed the start of the medical marijuana program until it was effectively overturned in 2009, with the first DC customer legally purchasing medical cannabis at a dispensary in the District in 2013.Altieri Erik First Medical Marijuana Sale Reported in Washington, DC https://blog.norml.org/2013/07/30/first-medical-marijuana-sale-reported-in-washington-dc/ 2017-06-02 NORML 2013-07-30 Barr Amendment In 1998, Georgia Congressman Bob Barr successfully blocked implementation of Initiative 59https://prop1.org/thomas/dcvotergate/textfrm.htm Text of Initiative 59 Prop1.org 2013-08-24 – the "Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative of 1998" – which would have legalized medical marijuana in Washington, D.C. Steve Twomey On the Hill, Barring Democracy http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98.n1072.a09.html The Washington Post B01 1998-11-23 2008-04-25 The "Barr Amendment" to the 1999 Omnibus spending bill not only blocked implementation of Initiative 59, but also prohibited the vote tally from even being released. Peter Slevin Caryle Murphy Marijuana Vote Results Kept Secret https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/dcelections/marijuana4.htm The Washington Post A37 1998-11-04 2008-04-25 Nearly a year passed before a lawsuithttps://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/medmarijuana/10751lgl19981030.html Turner v. DC Board of Elections, ACLU Complaint | American Civil Liberties Union Aclu.org 1998-10-30 2013-08-24 filed by the American Civil Liberties Union eventually revealed the initiative had received 69% of the vote. DC Medical Marijuana Initiative 59 – Landslide Win ACT UP-DC 1999-09-21 https://cannabisnews.com/news/2/thread2973.shtml 2008-04-25 In response to the judge's ruling,https://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/medmarijuana/10752lgl19990917.html Turner v. DC Board of Elections, Court Decision | American Civil Liberties Union Aclu.org 1999-09-17 2013-08-24 Barr attached another "Barr Amendment" to the 2000 Omnibus spending bill that overturned Initiative 59 outright. American Civil Liberties Union Democracy Held Hostage ACLU Drug Law Reform Project American Civil Liberties Union 2000-12-31 https://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/medmarijuana/10718res20001231.html 2008-04-25 The Barr Amendment also prohibited future laws that would "decrease the penalties for marijuana or other Schedule I drugs" in Washington, D.C.Battle Over Medical Marijuana in D.C. Moves to Appeals Court Marijuana Policy Project http://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/battle-over-medical-marijuana-in-d-c-moves-to-appeals-court.html 2008-05-20 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080918150701/http://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/battle-over-medical-marijuana-in-d-c-moves-to-appeals-court.html 2008-09-18 This preemptively blocked future attempts by Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) to reform marijuana laws in DC via the initiative process. In March 2002, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan struck down this portion of the Barr Amendment as being an unconstitutional restriction on free speech. Marijuana Policy Project v. D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics United States District Court for the District of Columbia 2002-03-22 http://www.mpp.org/assets/pdfs/pdf/MEMORANDUM_OPINION.PDF PDF Barr criticized the ruling, arguing the court had ignored Congress' constitutional right to pass laws protecting citizens from "dangerous and addictive narcotics." The federal government later prevailed on appeal, Marijuana Policy Project v. United States of America United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 2002-09-19 http://www.mpp.org/assets/pdfs/pdf/DC_APPEALS_DECISION.PDF PDF reinstating the Barr Amendment just in time to thwart MPP's initiative 63 – "The Medical Marijuana Initiative of 2002" – which had already qualified for the November 2002 ballot.D.C. Medical Marijuana Initiative District of Columbia Legislation Marijuana Policy Project http://www.mpp.org/legislation/dc/bills/d-c-medical-marijuana-initiative.html 2008-05-20 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080918151026/http://www.mpp.org/legislation/dc/bills/d-c-medical-marijuana-initiative.html September 18, 2008 Timeline of Initiative Events District of Columbia Legislation Marijuana Policy Project http://www.mpp.org/legislation/dc/bills/timeline-of-initiative-events.html 2008-05-20 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080918150902/http://www.mpp.org/legislation/dc/bills/timeline-of-initiative-events.html September 18, 2008 In 2009, both the United States Senate and House of Representatives voted to lift the ban against a medical marijuana initiative, effectively overturning the Barr Amendment.Congress Lifts Ban on Medical Marijuana for Nation's Capitol Federal Advocacy Project Americans for Safe Access http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5866 2009-12-15 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20091222204301/http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5866 2009-12-22 Initiative 71 and legalization of recreational cannabis In 2014, the legalization of non-commercial possession and cultivation of recreational marijuana was approved by District of Columbia voters through Initiative 71. See also United States Cannabis in the United States#District of Columbia Decriminalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States#Second wave of decriminalization begins (2001) Timeline of cannabis legalization in the United States#Municipal Legal history of cannabis in the United States#State-level legalization Initiatives and referendums in the District of Columbia References Category:Cannabis ballot measures in the United States Category:Cannabis law in the District of Columbia Category:Political history of Washington, D.C. Category:1998 in American law Category:1998 in Washington, D.C. Category:1998 cannabis law reform Category:1990s cannabis law reform in the United States