5061186 Resolution 20-576, “Sense of the Council of the District of Columbia Regarding Enforcement of the Marijuana Decriminalization Act Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014”

a RESOLUTION

 

20-576

 

In the Council of the District of Columbia

 

July 14, 2014

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to declare the sense of the Council regarding the enforcement of the Marijuana Possession Decriminalization Amendment Act of 2014 in the District of Columbia.

 

            RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Sense of the Council of the District of Columbia Regarding Enforcement of the Marijuana Decriminalization Act Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014”.

 

            Sec. 2.   (a)  Representative Andy Harris (R-MD) filed an amendment in the United States House of Representatives that would prohibit implementation of the District’s marijuana decriminalization law - effectively stopping recent legislation that has completed congressional review.

            (b)  This resolution would express the Council’s staunch opposition to attempts to override our marijuana laws, which were adopted with strong Council and community support. 

            (c)   Our medical marijuana law passed overwhelmingly by voter initiative and we proceeded with implementation after Congress gave us a green light some 5 years ago. 

            (d)   Our decriminalization law is much more recent and follows the trend in what soon will be a majority of the States.  Both are good public policy.

 

            Sec. 3    The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Sense of the Council of the District of Columbia Regarding Enforcement of the Marijuana Decriminalization Act Emergency Resolution of 2014 be adopted on an emergency basis.

 

            Sec. 4.   This resolution shall take effect immediately.