Larsson läser
Janerik Larsson
Janerik Larsson
Den amerikanska maktdelningen mellan delstater och den federala statsmakten gör att det nu finns delstater som legaliserat försäljning av marijuana. Men den federala lagstiftningens förbud kvarstår. Här en glimt från denna dragkamp som gäller huvudstaden – District of Columbia- som styrs direkt av kongressen:
Day one of the standoff between the District of Columbia and Congress over marijuana legalization in D.C. kicked off Tuesday, as the initiative legalizing possession and cultivation of small amounts of marijuana was transmitted to Congress for review.
The office of the secretary to the D.C. Council confirmed Tuesday that the initiative was sent to Congress. Under the Home Rule Act, Congress has 30 days to review District laws, during which time Congress can reject the law by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.
But, House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said Congress does not have to respond since the initiative was already blocked by Congress.
“We still believe the prohibition on the implementation is crystal clear in the law,” Chaffetz said outside the House floor Tuesday, referring to the year-end spending package that included an amendment targeting marijuana legalization in D.C.
“Oh they can send us paperwork,” Chaffetz said. “That doesn’t mean that the law’s changed. The law is already in place.”
Asked if Congress would consider a joint resolution of disapproval, which must be passed by both chambers and signed by the president, and Chaffetz responded, “No.”
But some D.C. officials are countering that if the initiative goes through a 30-day review without any response by Congress, the initiative, passed by 70 percent of D.C. voters in November, will be able to take effect.
Detta är en fråga som länge setts som en juridisk fråga i USA – men frågan är om den gradvisa legaliseringen kommer att skapa ett ökande behov av medicinsk hantering av marijuanakonsumtionens effekter.