Bob Barr: “Washington is nothing if not a city of contradictions. Within one week, we have seen the Department of Justice launch a…”

“Washington is nothing if not a city of contradictions. Within one week, we have seen the Department of Justice launch a multibillion dollar lawsuit against tobacco, and then 2 days ago we saw the President veto the D.C. appropriations spending bill because it contained a provision which would stop the District of Columbia from legalizing marijuana. What is the President's message? Tobacco bad, marijuana good. Mr. Speaker, recently this House passed a provision in the D.C. appropriations bill that reminded the District of Columbia that it remains part of the Union, part of America, subject to our laws and subject to our Constitution, prohibiting them from taking steps to legalize mind-altering controlled substances. While the President will not hold the line on this and encourages the use of marijuana in the District of Columbia, we must in this body hold the line and prohibit D.C. from legalizing controlled substances.”