Marijuana Vote Results Kept Secret
By Peter Slevin and Caryle Murphy Washington Post Staff Writers Wednesday, November 4, 1998; Page A37
Voters made their choices, machines counted ballots, but the results of the District's medical marijuana initiative must remain secret to comply with rules passed by Congress, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics decided.
To avoid crossing Congress, election workers used white-out to hide the results on computer printouts, said Kenneth McGhie, elections board general counsel.
Tabulated yeas and nays on Initiative 59 cannot be announced, the board concluded, because Congress barred the District from spending money to carry out any ballot initiative that would legalize drugs or reduce penalties for their use, possession or sale.
The fate of Initiative 59, which would permit patients to use marijuana with a doctor's recommendation, now rests in U.S. District Court, where supporters are demanding that the vote be honored. Until the ruling is made - no hearing is scheduled - the elections board will take no further steps.
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