Your medical cannabis journey simplified: find partnered dispensaries, explore pricing options, earn rewards, and get answers to FAQs, all in one spot.
March 24, 2021 03:30 pm ETEstimated Read Time: 4 Minutes
Cannabis is illegal at the federal level, as we all know. But it’s also being legalized, gradually, state by state. And this mixed legality leads to some funky situations. For example, California and Oregon—two contiguous states—are both very progressive when it comes to cannabis law. Recreational cannabis has been legal in both states for several years. However, if you own a cannabis business in California, you can’t sell your product in Oregon. That’s because, even though cannabis is fully legal on every inch of land in question, it remains illegal to sell across state lines thanks to federal law. Federal law also creates sticky problems when it comes to banking, making it more complicated for cannabis businesses to operate. And then there’s the problem of Washington, D.C. Residents of the District are accustomed to living without certain benefits that are afforded under the protection of individual states’ rights. And when it comes to cannabis, they might never see legalization until the federal government is ready to legalize it. Then again, maybe they will with the newly introduced Safe Cannabis Sales Act of 2021.
Introducing the Safe Cannabis Sales Act of 2021
The Safe Cannabis Sales Act of 2021, introduced last month, is aimed at legalizing recreational cannabis sales for residents of D.C. aged 21 and older. This would be a big step forward. Currently, DC residents are allowed to grow, possess, and gift cannabis, but may not sell it. While that’s certainly better than nothing, it makes it impossible for an industry to spring up. And D.C. wants that industry. That’s why they’ve built a 17% sales tax into the Safe Cannabis Sales Act. Like many states that have passed recreational cannabis legislation, D.C. sees the benefit of legalizing cannabis and using the sales tax proceeds to fund other initiatives in the city.
Apply For Your Medical Marijuana Card Today
Veriheal has satisfied hundreds of thousands of patients nationwide
Get approved or your money back
Appointments available on-demand
Customer support available 24/7
But there have been obstacles to overcome. In 2014, Congress attached a provision to an appropriations bill that stopped D.C. from using its funds to legalize or regulate the sale of cannabis. Part of the reason D.C. has continued to push so hard for legalization is to aid communities of color. It’s widely known that communities of color have been disproportionately victimized by cannabis prohibition and penalties. D.C. officials hope to take steps to rectify that situation with this new legislation. The Safe Cannabis Sales Act of 2021 aims to provide assistance to help people of color enter the cannabis industry and find success there. After years of being victimized by cannabis law, it’s only appropriate that disenfranchised people should be among the greatest beneficiaries of legalization. In addition, D.C. officials hope to funnel a significant amount of the money taken in through sales taxes on cannabis products into rebuilding communities that have been harmed over the years by the War on Drugs.
Will the Act Become Law?
The answer is a resounding maybe. There are encouraging signs. It’s clear that this is the will of the people of D.C., and legislators may recognize that and wish to honor it. It’s also clear that similar legislation has been nothing but successful in other parts of the country—we have only to look at what’s going on in California or Colorado to see examples of how well cannabis legalization serves populations. In order for it to happen, Congress will have to refrain from preventing D.C. from paying for it. As previously mentioned, that’s not something Congress has allowed in the past. But with a Democrat-controlled House and Senate—traditionally the party more friendly to cannabis reforms—the stars may finally be coming into alignment for Washington, D.C.
Kat Helgeson comes from a ten year career in social media marketing and content creation. She takes pride in her ability to communicate the culture and values of an organization via the written word. Kat is also the author of numerous books for young adults. Her titles have received the Junior Library Guild Award, the Bank Street College of Education Best Books of the Year Distinction, and been featured on the Illinois Reads selection list. Her work has been translated into Dutch and German.
Blunts: What are they exactly, and how do they affect your body? If you’re interested in smoking blunts—or already smoke them—this guide is for you. We’ll cover everything you need to know about this popular cannabis intake method, including how they’re made, how they differ from spliffs and joints, risks of use, and alternative intake…
“Stoned,” “high,” “tripping,” and “baked,” are all terms engrained in the cannabis community. These metaphorical descriptions contribute to how we perceive, interpret, and learn from the experiences produced by cannabis consumption. Cannabis experiences, of course, are unique and highly variable. Specific plant strains, the presence of other cannabinoids, different delivery methods, and a user’s individual…
Thanks to the growing wave of legalization, more consumers than ever can grow their own cannabis right at home. Growing essentials that used to be secretive are now bought and sold freely. This includes items, like grow tents, nutrients, LED lighting, HPS lighting, ventilation, and more. Keeping all these items straight is hard enough, but…
Skin diseases plague millions of individuals, inflicting both physical discomforts in addition to mental and social stress. Thankfully, there is no shortage of skin treatment options available on the market. That said, this established market may soon be in for a major shake-up if recent cannabis research is any indication. Traditionally, cannabis research focused on studying…
As more states move toward legalization, accurately detecting impaired driving is of the utmost importance. Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs) have long been the go-to method for law enforcement to assess driver impairment caused by substances like alcohol. However, a recent 2023 study published in JAMA Psychiatry raises serious questions about the accuracy of these tests…
We use our own as well as third party cookies to improve your site experience and the services we make available. You can learn more about our use of cookies in our Privacy Policy.
Content Disclamer
The statements made regarding cannabis products on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cannabis is not an FDA-approved substance and is still illegal under federal law. The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. We strongly recommend that you consult with a physician or other qualified healthcare provider before using any cannabis products. The use of any information provided on this website is solely at your own risk.