Congressional leaders agreed on a spending bill that continues to block Washington D.C. from legalizing recreational marijuana sales and reminds local officials of enhanced federal penalties for marijuana distribution near schools. The legislation also directs federal officials to submit a report on PRC-linked criminal drug syndicates involved in illegal drug and money laundering operations in the U.S., which appears intended to target illicit Chinese cannabis growers in states including Maine, California, and Oregon.

Congressional Leaders Maintain Block on D.C. Recreational Cannabis Sales

Jan 12, 2026

Source:

Kyle Jaeger

Marijuana Moment

Congressional leaders have once again decided to play gatekeeper, reaching a budget agreement that maintains the long-standing ban on recreational cannabis sales in Washington, D.C. Despite District voters calling for a legal market over a decade ago, this spending bill includes the familiar rider that prevents local officials from using funds to set up a regulated retail system. The legislation also goes a step further by reminding the District about federal penalties for any distribution near schools and playgrounds, while ordering a crackdown on illicit international growing operations.

While the House recently moved to protect medical programs, this latest move is a major buzzkill for D.C. residents who just want a safe, legal way to buy bud. There is a glimmer of hope, though; if the administration follows through on moving cannabis to Schedule III, some legal experts believe this restrictive rider might finally lose its teeth. For tokers, this matters because it keeps the "gray market" alive in the District, delaying the transition to a fully transparent, accessible, and taxed industry that benefits the local community.