It's been 10 years now, so some history is in order:

In 1998, voters in the District overwhelmingly approved Initiative 59 to allow seriously ill people, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or those suffering from AIDS-wasting syndrome, to use medical marijuana under their doctor's supervision. But every year for a decade, Congress passed an amendment to the D.C. budget stopping the measure from taking effect. The hold on medical marijuana, of course, was just another in a long line of congressional interference with local affairs.

[continues 631 words]