Legalize Marijuana? U.S. Congress Says No, Protests Erupt

To legalize marijuana for recreational use, the people of the United States took to the voting booths. Allegedly, those votes didn’t count because Congress is in the process of overturning the law supporting recreational pot.

The marijuana legalization debate has been among the biggest legal fights this country has seen in recent decades, alongside LGBT rights and police brutality. Despite being classified by the federal government as an illegal drug, advocates for the legalization of marijuana have pointed to statistics in their battle.

One of the greatest statistics in favor of the motion to legalize pot is the often stated fact that nobody has ever died from an overdose of the drug. There have been deaths related to its use, but none from actually inhaling too much of the smoke.

Even in the movies, recreational marijuana has mostly been shown in a positive, cheerful light. Republicans in Congress aren’t seeing that positive light and the vote to legalize marijuana is being upended.

When the vote to legalize weed took a positive turn in the nation’s capitol, those in favor cheered, until they realized that U.S. Congress has the power to halt the bill from becoming a law. After an overwhelming vote in favor, Representative Andy Harris (R-MD) stepped in and lead the opposition to halt the bill the people voted for.

Tonight we march! “@whiteknightpua: can we rally a protest on the Hill? Maybe have people set up camp outside Andy Harris’ offices?”

— Adam Eidinger (@aeidinger) December 10, 2014

U.S. Council member David Grosso, a leading advocate for the legalization of pot, had a few choice words on the matter, according to The Washington Post.

“The best thing that could happen here – the only good thing – is that people around the country may finally realize that the will of people in D.C. [is not respected].

“Members of Congress of both parties are willing to sell us down the river to get some of their priorities through. Hopefully, people will stand up this time and say, ‘Enough is enough.’?”

Protesters have taken to the nation’s capitol to chant, march, and “sit in,” opposing Congress’ decision not to legalize marijuana for recreational use. The civil disobedience may lead to arrests, but they are hoping that the march from the Justice Department to the end of Capitol Hill will sway Congress’ actions.

Representative Andy Harris is instead waiting for other states’ results before allowing the bill to pass into law.

“The takeaway is that if Congress passes this amendment, it will have taken the position that it is way too early to proceed with legalization in the District of Columbia, and I think that most people think we should wait for more scientific evidence from states that have attempted legalization.”

Do you agree with Congress’ decision not to legalize marijuana, or do you side with the protesters fighting for recreational pot?

[Image via NBC News]