Costa Rican Constitutional Court Strikes Down Recreational Cannabis Referendum
On Wednesday, Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court, Sala IV, ruled against a proposed referendum on adult-use cannabis legalization, citing conflicts with international treaties. The court emphasized that the underlying bill itself violates Article 7 of the Political Constitution, which prioritizes international treaties over domestic laws. As such, the legislation cannot proceed through either a referendum or legislative approval without addressing these conflicts.
“Bill No. 23,383, called ‘Law on the control and regulation of cannabis for recreational use’ and, in substance, declares that the bill is unconstitutional for contravening the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 – approved by Law No. 4544, of March 18, 1970 -, the Vienna Convention on Psychotropic Substances – approved by Law No. 4990, of June 10, 1972 -, and the United Nations Convention against …