There’s a backlash over a Maryland congressman’s actions against a D.C. marijuana law. Now a group is calling for residents in the district to retaliate by boycotting the Eastern Shore. News4’s Chris Gordon takes a closer look at the controversy.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been corrected. D.C. Vote is the group calling for the boycott of the Eastern Shore.
The mayor of the District of Columbia wants you to think twice before heading to the Eastern Shore of Maryland this holiday weekend, because of its congressional representative's position on decriminalizing marijuana.
Mayor Vincent Gray said at a Wednesday news conference that the city's residents shouldn't support someone who doesn't support them.
The mayor is referring to Rep. Andy Harris, who represents Maryland's Eastern Shore. Harris successfully attached an amendment to a House budget bill that would overturn the city's marijuana decriminalization law.
“The mayor urged those who care about District Home Rule to think twice about where they spend their money.” Pedro Ribeiro, a spokesman for Gray, told News4. “Of course he thinks it’s hypocritical of the congressman to try to block the District’s decriminalization after his own state did the same thing. Why doesn’t he introduce legislation to block Maryland’s law?”
The nonprofit group D.C. Vote called for a boycott of all vacation spots in Harris' district, including popular Ocean City.
Harris, a Republican, says city residents "know better'' than to boycott his district. He says spending the weekend on the family friendly Eastern Shore is more important than increasing drug use by teenagers in Washington.
