The congressional spending bill agreed to on Tuesday night blocks Washington , DC lawmakers from using federal or local funds to implement November 's popularly passed referendum to legalize marijuana in the district . The legislation , according to a release from Republican Rep. Hal Rogers , chairman of the House Appropriations Committee , `` prohibits both federal and local funds from being used to implement a referendum legalizing recreational marijuana use in the district . '' The language in the bill -- found on page 660 of the 1,603 page document -- is word-for-word what Republican Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland proposed earlier in the year . `` None of the funds contained in this act may be used 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 schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act or any tetrhydrocannabinols derivative for recreational purposes , '' reads the bill . DC marijuana activists ' worst fears were realized on Tuesday night with the agreed upon language . Earlier in the day , activists worried that Congress would thwart November 's popular vote to legalize pot in the district . `` This House language sucks , '' Adam Eidinger , chair of the DC Cannabis Campaign , said after the language was released . `` Only the Senate can step up and do something or presidential veto . Otherwise our election has just been overturned and we will take it to the streets . '' In response to the Congress ' decision , pro-marijuana groups are prepared to protest Wednesday night . Although the proposal needs to pass the House and Senate and get signed into law by the President , it appears unlikely the Democrats will risk shutting down the government to remove the marijuana language . Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , who believes that DC should be able to do what it wants , admitted to reporters earlier today that `` if they put it in there , it 's going to be hard to take it out . '' And in announcing the deal , Rep. Nita Lowey , D-New York , said that although she `` strongly oppose [ s ] several policy riders included in this final agreement ... I am pleased Democrats were able to eliminate many of the most damaging provisions . '' By moving to stop legalization efforts in DC , Congress will have trumped the over 70 percent of district residents who voted to legalize marijuana in November . Congress , under DC 's Home Rule charter , is able to veto every law approved by either DC voters or government . In the past , this power has been used to block everything from abortion spending to needle exchange . During the 2011 budget negotiations , President Barack Obama reportedly used the district 's law of paying for low-income women 's abortions as a bargaining chip with House Speaker John Boehner . `` John , I will give you DC abortion . I am not happy about it , '' Obama said , according to The Washington Post . `` This was always a possibility but I think it is very , very disturbing that Democrats have given this away , '' said Michael Collins , policy manager for the Drug Policy Alliance , a group that lobbied for the DC law . `` This is really one of the final acts of Democratic leadership before Republicans control both sides and for them to give this away , it just seems to very tone deaf . '' The DC Cannabis Campaign , the group who introduced and passed the legalization ballot initiative , also blamed congressional Democrats for blocking the legislation . `` This is a big issue and if you are going to overturn an election , you are going to demoralize young Democrats across the country , '' said Eidinger said . DC Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser has not yet commented on the possibility of Congress addressing the district 's marijuana law . But her spokesman , Joaquin McPeek , before the language came out on Tuesday that Bowser `` would hope that Congress would respect the will of the voters and reject any challenge to their rights . '' With Congress blocking marijuana funding , expect many DC residents to cry foul about what they calling living under the thump of Congress . `` This is nothing new , '' said Mark Plotkin , a longtime figure in DC politics . `` We are a colony . We are America 's colony and anytime they want to screw around with us , they can do such things . '' What 's more , while Congress is making decisions for the district , proponents of district autonomy were quick to point out that district residents still have no voting member of the House or Senate .
The congressional spending bill blocks Washington , DC lawmakers from implementing marijuana legalization . Score: 6 Congress , under the district 's Home Rule charter , is able to veto every law approved by either DC voters or government . `` This House language sucks , '' said Adam Eidinger , chair of the DC Cannabis Campaign .