GOP Targets D.C. Cannabis Expungement Law

OG Article By Kyle Jaeger

September 09 2025

Overview

A GOP-led House committee will vote on bills targeting Washington, D.C. policies. One bill seeks to repeal a law expanding cannabis possession expungements.

Committee Action

The House Oversight Committee, led by Rep.

James Comer (R-KY), meets Wednesday to review 14 bills.

These aim to change or repeal D.C. laws.

Comer said, “President Trump and House Republicans are committed to restoring law and

order in our nation’s capital city.”

Second Chance Amendment Act

The Second Chance Amendment Act, enacted in 2022, mandates automatic expungement of cannabis possession records for offenses before D.C.’s 2014 legalization.

Key Law

“The Court shall order automatic expungement of all criminal records.

related only to citations, arrests, charges, or convictions for.

simple possession for any quantity of cannabis.

before February 15, 2015…”

GOP’s Position

Comer claims, “Under President Trump’s decisive leadership, crime in D.C.

is now falling at an unprecedented rate.”

The committee supports Trump’s reforms to strengthen D.C.

law enforcement and address juvenile crime.

Cannabis Restrictions

Advocates oppose Congress blocking D.C.’s cannabis policies.

Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) sponsors a rider barring D.C.

from funding regulated recreational cannabis sales.

The House Appropriations Committee recently upheld this rider.

D.C. Autonomy Issues

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) criticizes these restrictions.

“I am outraged at the number and scope of anti-D.C.

home rule riders,” she said in July.

Norton plans to fight the cannabis rider in the 2026 fiscal bill.

Background

Trump’s June budget request included the Harris rider, despite D.C.

voters approving legalization in 2014.

Former President Biden also supported this restriction. D.C.

has expanded its medical cannabis program as a workaround.