Mayor Elections June 2016.

[Stivi]

Can mayors change laws?

[Marcel]

Can mayors change laws?

They can enact local bylaws as long as they do not conflict with state laws.

[Stivi]

They can enact local bylaws as long as they do not conflict with state laws.

So they can add new laws, but not "legal weed"-type of laws?

[JDC]

So they can add new laws, but not "legal weed"-type of laws?

"Production of, use of, sale of, possession of or otherwise distribution of, heroin marijuana or methamphetamine is strictly prohibited." (Sec. III Art. II, Argonath San Andreas Constitution)

Nope, not for weed. The local laws they enact (i.e. City Ordinances) cannot conflict with higher (i.e. State / National) laws, such as the State Constitution. Legalizing weed would require an amendment to the State Constitution.

If a substance is not mentioned or included in a category mentioned in the State Constitution, however, the Mayors are allowed to make their own ruling on it. Such ruling will be binding unless overturned by amendments to the State Constitution or by a Federal Court.

TL;DR: National / Federal Law > State Law > Local Laws

[Marcel]

Pretty much what JDC says.

[Stivi]

"Production of, use of, sale of, possession of or otherwise distribution of, heroin marijuana or methamphetamine is strictly prohibited." (Sec. III Art. II, Argonath San Andreas Constitution)

Nope, not for weed. The local laws they enact (i.e. City Ordinances) cannot conflict with higher (i.e. State / National) laws, such as the State Constitution. Legalizing weed would require an amendment to the State Constitution.

If a substance is not mentioned or included in a category mentioned in the State Constitution, however, the Mayors are allowed to make their own ruling on it. Such ruling will be binding unless overturned by amendments to the State Constitution or by a Federal Court.

TL;DR: National / Federal Law > State Law > Local Laws

Yeah yeah that's what I thought - thanks.

[JDC]

@Stivi, @Marcel: There is a way though, in theory, that a Mayor can influence laws on marijuana, granted that the State will permit this kind of engagement.

A Mayor (or the joint Mayors of the 3 cities) petitions the Federal / State Government or Courts to amend the State Constitution so as to remove "marijuana" (weed) from the list of totally prohibited items, either through their own power as Mayor/s or a petition from their constituents. The proposed alternatives could be one of the following:

1.) Laws on usage of weed within a particular city and its adjacent County (i.e. Los Santos and Red County) will be devolved to the Local Government. If the three Mayors enact the same rulings, the law on weed will be the same everywhere. If they enact different rulings, weed could be legal / regulated in one area and criminalized in another.

2.) Weed is legalized State-wide (could also be a City-wide scenario, if #1 happens), albeit with heavy regulation. One example would be allowing medical / recreational usage with every individual being legally allowed to carry below X grams, and only medical institutions being allowed to keep stockpiles in excess of the legal individual limit. This allows for some legalization, while keeping a black market alive.

3.) Weed is completely decriminalized. (could also happen if #1 occurs and all three Mayors agree to decriminalize weed, without regulation)

4.) Other player-created scenarios. (Y'all mothafuckas got brains and imaginations, you could probably make a new one if you want to.)

Any Mayor/s willing to take this road could face a fierce legal battle. And if the scenario is crafted right, even the mobs might find themselves dragged in. With new things for FBI / SAPD and State Attorneys to work on, it would also make for an interesting and intriguing political / judicial scenario.