Voters in D.C. recently passed Initiative 71, which allows for adults over the age of 21 to cultivate at most six marijuana plants and possess up to two ounces of marijuana in their home for personal use.

Other states, such as Oregon and Alaska, followed D.C.’s footsteps by legalizing some aspect of marijuana use in their own individual states, with only Florida failing to pass a ballot measure.

While the DC measure was passed almost a month ago, the situation is different in other states.

According to a Nov. 5 article from CNN, Congress can “overrule” D.C. laws due to its distinct status as a district.

With a now-Republican majority in Congress, this law’s status is at risk, as conservatives in Congress may look to eradicate this new measure. However, their efforts may be in vain because marijuana legalization seems like an inevitable change.

Marijuana should be legalized. The maintenance of this law in DC is the perfect testament as to why Americans need to embrace this new stance on marijuana rather than fight it.

This law would not affect anyone apart from the individual who is growing the plant, since the law restricts marijuana sale in DC.

The individuals growing the cannabis plants are doing so for their own pleasure and are not allowed to recreationally smoke marijuana outside of their homes. It does no harm to the community since no person over the age of 21 will have access to the drug.

Again, since there is no sale, only people over the age of 21 will have access to the drug. This in turn will not harm the community, as only adults will be able to possess the substance, and even then, they still can’t sell it.

Furthermore, the law reflects the latest trends of American thinking.

According to a 2013 Gallup poll, more Americans supported the legalization of marijuana than opposed it.

In addition to that, according to the article previously mentioned, a 2014 Pew Research poll found that “54% of Americans supported making marijuana legal.”

Congress cannot ignore its constituents. From the people who elected them to office to the district in which Congress convenes, support for the legalization of marijuana is growing rapidly.

Congress needs to modernize its stance on marijuana and uphold the DC law, and in turn, help end the prohibition of the drug and legalize it nationwide.