{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/rep-andy-harris-releases-statement-his-amendment-block-dc%E2%80%99s-effort-decriminalize", "Rep. Andy Harris Releases Statement on His Amendment to Block D.C.s Effort to Decriminalize Marijuana", "2014-06-25", "2014", "2014-06", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nJune 25, 2014\nRep. Andy Harris Releases Statement on His Amendment to Block D.C.\u2019s Effort to Decriminalize Marijuana\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., has released the following statement in response to the Appropriations Committee\u2019s bipartisan decision today to accept his amendment, which would block the District of Columbia\u2019s effort to decriminalize marijuana. According to the most recent data from the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the District of Columbia has one of the highest rates of marijuana use among residents age 12 and up. The amendment does not impact medical marijuana laws in the District.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAs a physician, I have read study after study on the devastating effects of marijuana use, especially on developing brains of teenagers. Congress has the authority to stop irresponsible actions by local officials, and I am glad we did for the health and safety of children throughout the District. When I became a physician, I took an oath to do no harm, and decriminalizing marijuana will harm D.C. residents, especially youth. That\u2019s why I took steps to stop its implementation.\u201d\n###\nContact: Erin Montgomery\nPress Secretary\nOffice of Congressman Andy Harris, M.D.\nMaryland\u2019s First District\n1533 Longworth HOB | Washington, DC 20515\nO: 202-226-4870\nM: 202-441-7940\nerin.montgomery@mail.house.gov\nWebsite | Facebook | Twitter", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/rep-andy-harris-releases-statement-his-amendment-block-dc%E2%80%99s-effort-decriminalize"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6542298942804337, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}