With voters in Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C., passing measures to approve legalizing marijuana and polls reflecting a growing acceptance of the idea, Congress should begin to get the message.

The first test for the new Republican-controlled Congress will be whether it approves Washington, D.C.’s vote, which passed by a 2-to-1 margin and would allow residents and visitors to have up to 2 ounces of marijuana for personal use and home cultivation of up to three plants.

Federal lawmakers who have oversight of the District of Columbia shouldn’t deny the democratic process in, of all places, the nation’s capital.

Read more: Congress, step up on legalized marijuana | Denver Post editorial