Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD). (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

An amendment introduced by a Republican Representative from Maryland to block the implementation of D.C.’s marijuana decriminalization law passed 28 to 21 in the House Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Andy Harris, a physician, introduced the amendment to the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill, saying today marijuana is “dangerous to the developing brain.”

“It’s not a jurisdiction issue,” Harris said of blocking a law passed by the D.C. Council. “Whether or not we should, we can debate.” Harris also said his constituents on the Eastern Shore are concerned about Maryland’s decriminalization law, adding that D.C.’s law has much lower fines “with no referral for help,” even for younger people.

“That’s just plain bad policy,” he continued. “This is an opportunity to stop bad policy from going forward.”

Rep. José E. Serrano (D-N.Y.) spoke in strong opposition of the amendment, saying it’s “unfair” for Congress to tell D.C. how to spend its locally generated revenue. “I sincerely doubt that any members of this body would wish that level of Congressional control over local finances and laws,” he said. “The District of Columbia is no different.”

Virginia Democrat Jim Moran also spoke against the amendment, pointing out that publicly smoking marijuana can still be punished with jail time. He also noted that the law was passed to combat the racial disparity in marijuana possession arrests. “That’s their decision,” Moran said, adding that what works for one location won’t work for another. “That’s what make our country great, those kinds of differences. It just doesn’t seem right that the Eastern Shore of Maryland should be able to reach over to D.C. and make laws for D.C. That’s not the way this country is supposed to function.”

The amendment passed along party lines, save for one Democrat — Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas. It could be removed on the House floor, by the Senate or President Obama could veto the bill.