Barr to Continue Fight Against Drug Legalization

Press release by U.S. Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA)

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2002 — U.S. Representative Bob Barr (GA-7) today vowed to continue his fight against a drug legalization initiative in the District of Columbia, despite a misguided ruling today by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, allowing this issue to be placed back on the ballot later this year.

"Clearly, the court today has ignored the constitutional right and responsibility of Congress to pass laws protecting citizens from dangerous and addictive narcotics, and the right of Congress to exert legislative control over the District of Columbia as the nation's capital." Barr said. "This ballot initiative was not about free speech, nor was the court correct in defining it as such. This initiative was about opening the door to drug legalization, and whether federal taxpayer dollars should be used to support a drug legalization agenda. This backdoor effort to usurp federal law, endanger the health and safety of citizens, and to use hard-earned tax dollars to do so, will not succeed."

As part of a comprehensive effort to prevent drug legalization in the District of Columbia, Barr, immediately following today's court ruling, wrote Attorney General John Ashcroft, asking the Justice Department to appeal the court's decision. Barr also wrote fellow Rep. Joseph Knollenberg, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the District of Columbia, requesting the Committee's assistance in ensuring taxpayer dollars are not used in the drug legalization effort.

"So long as marijuana remains a Schedule I Controlled Substance, as it should, it is utterly inconsistent, counter-productive, and ultimately harmful to America's war against drugs, to allow our nation's capital to move the drug legalization process forward," Barr said today. "Today's decision was not about upholding the Constitution, it was about using taxpayer money to deliberately circumvent federal anti-drug laws, thereby endangering the lives of taxpayers."

Barr represents Georgia's Seventh District. He serves on the House Financial Services, Judiciary, and Government Reform Committees.