font face="arial, helvetica">Democracy In Limbo: The Court
Still Hasn’t Ruled On The D.C. Medical Marijuana Vote
(Marijuananews note: This was buried inside
today’s Post.)Ruling Still Pending on D.C. Marijuana Vote
March 15, 1999
From The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com
By Julie Makinen Bowles
More than four months after D.C. residents went to the polls and
voted on whether to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, the outcome remains top
secret.
Tabulation of the Nov. 3 referendum was blocked after Congress amended the city’s
1999 budget at the last minute and barred the District from using any city funds to count
and certify the marijuana votes. Supporters of the measure, known as Initiative 59, went
to court with the American Civil Liberties Union to get the votes tallied and certified.
In December, U.S. District Judge Richard Roberts held a hearing on the matter, but he has
not ruled.
"We are standing by, waiting for the judge to rule," said Wayne Turner, of
ACT UP Washington, who spearheaded the petition drive to get the initiative on the ballot.
"In normal time, this is a long, long time to wait. In legal time, it’s normal,
I’m told. . . . Keep in mind, this man is going to [anger] people no matter how he
rules."
The "D.C. vote that wasn’t" has been written up in
newspapers nationwide and featured on Sunday morning talk shows. While Turner awaits word
from the judge, he has been busy responding to people across the country who have heard
about the case and have contacted him to ask what they can do to help.
See
Editorial
Page Editor of the Atlanta Constitution. Says "Barr is the Democrat’s best
ally."
(Marijuananews note: It has even forced the Post to mention medical marijuana from time
to time.)
See
ACLU Sues To
Protect Vote On D. C. Medical Marijuana Initiative, Washington Post Reports
and
Congress
Prohibits Counting The D.C. Vote On Medical Marijuana
And This Offends Even The Washington Post
"That’s been a real plus for the residents of D.C.—alerting people to the
colonial status we have," Turner said.
In court, the Justice Department is defending the authority of Congress to forbid the
counting of the votes. But even Attorney General Janet Reno said at
a news conference last month that, in her personal opinion, D.C. residents should be able
to learn the outcome of the vote. The city, too, has lined up on Turner’s side.
See
Brer Clinton Gets
Stuck To The Barr Baby In The D.C. Medical Marijuana Briar Patch
Time, however, may be his greatest ally.
The amendment that bars the city from spending funds to count the ballots expires Oct.
1. If the judge hasn’t ruled by then—and if Congress doesn’t extend the
ban—the city will be free to use fiscal 2000 funds to tally, certify and announce the
results.
© Copyright 1999 The Washington Post Company
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