by Michelle Rutter, NCIA Government Relations Coordinator

This week was a milestone in the cannabis industry.

On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives debated the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill (HR 2578), which funds applicable government agencies for the upcoming FY2016. This year, there were four cannabis-related amendments under consideration: the Rohrabacher-Farr medical marijuana amendment, the McClintock-Polis adult-use marijuana amendment, the Bonamici-Massie industrial hemp amendment, and the Perry CBD oil amendment. The results signaled a clear victory for the cannabis industry.

Rohrabacher-Farr

For the second year in a row, Congress voted in favor of the Rohrabacher-Farr medical cannabis amendment. This amendment, introduced by Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Sam Farr (D-CA), bans the Department of Justice from spending money to prevent the implementation of state-level medical cannabis programs, in addition to removing funding for federal medical cannabis raids, arrests and prosecutions in states where medical cannabis is legal. The vote count increased from 219-189 in 2014, to 242-186 this year, with 67 Republicans voting ‘Yes.’

McClintock-Polis

For the first time ever, the McClintock-Polis amendment was offered on the House floor. This amendment, introduced by Reps. Tom McClintock (R-CA) and Jared Polis (D-CO), is similar to the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, but would have extended the same protections from the Department of Justice to non-medical retail marijuana businesses and consumers in states where adult-use sales have been legalized. The measure narrowly failed, 206-222, with more than 40 Republicans in support.

Bonamici-Massie

This amendment, officially named the Bonamici-Massie-Blumenauer-Polis amendment, blocks federal tax dollars from being used to prevent states from allowing the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of industrial hemp. A member of the cannabis family, hemp is a valuable agricultural commodity that can be found in more than 25,000 commercial products including food, paper, beauty products, and more. The measure passed overwhelmingly, 282-146, with 101 Republicans voting in favor.

Perry

Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) proposed an amendment to the CJS bill that would protect state laws that allow the use of CBD oils, but still leaves most medical marijuana patients and their providers vulnerable to federal arrest and prosecution. The measure was overwhelmingly passed by a margin of 297-130.

Just a few years ago, pro-cannabis amendments passing Congress was something that those involved in the industry could only dream of. Now, we’re just 16 votes shy of limiting the Department of Justice’s interference with any state-sanctioned marijuana business (McClintock-Polis). Though Congress moves at a notoriously glacial pace, these amendments shed light on politicians’ evolving stances on cannabis policy. These votes prove that NCIA, and all of our members, are slowly but surely convincing Congress that the cannabis industry is to be taken seriously.