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National Cannabis Industry Association Responds to Report of Federal Efforts to Discredit State Legalization

National Cannabis Industry Association Responds to Report of Federal Committee Directed to Discredit State Reforms, Ignore Positive Impacts of Legalizing Marijuana

 

Washington, D.C. –  On Wednesday, an article published in Buzzfeed News revealed details of a task force that was ostensibly created to inform the President on marijuana policy issues that are concerning to policy experts, state-licensed businesses, and advocates. The article contains internal memos that direct federal agencies to ignore data that shows positive impacts from regulating marijuana. These memos also ask those agencies to submit data which could be interpreted negatively, as well as instances and anecdotes that could be used to discredit legal cannabis programs.

“The directives given to this committee are biased, unscientific, and fly in the face of statements made by the President during his campaign and up to the present that he supports allowing states to determine their own marijuana policies without federal interference,” said Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). “This is an unfortunate example of staff within the administration exaggerating potential negatives associated with legalization while ignoring the clear benefits of regulation, and discounting the harms caused by the outdated policies of prohibition.”

In May, NCIA released a State Progress Report that details the impacts of legalizing and regulating cannabis for adults, and covers topics including public safety, teen use and availability, economic impact, and potential effects on the nation’s opioid crisis.

“We are confident that the available data, when viewed objectively, clearly shows that regulating cannabis works,” continued Smith. “By just about every measure, state programs have been widely successful at replacing prohibition with sound regulations, in spite of federal prohibition. These voter-supported programs will continue to expand, regardless of the outdated opinions some may have within the federal government.”

Last month, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) introduced a bill that would mandate a wide-reaching study on the impacts of legalization and continued prohibition at the state and federal level.

“We look forward to a study conducted by an independent federal agency that isn’t invested in continuing marijuana prohibition,” said Smith.

Senate Democratic Leader Introduces Bill to End Federal Marijuana Prohibition

New legislation would remove cannabis from Controlled Substances Act, joins other bills calling for states to choose own policies

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced a bill which would remove marijuana from the schedule of controlled substances, allowing states to determine their own cannabis policies without fear of federal interference. Sen. Schumer (D-NY) announced his intention to file the bill in late April following statements by the Trump administration signaling that it would support legislation that would leave cannabis policy to the states.

The Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act, cosponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), would specifically remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, decriminalizing the substance at the federal level and allowing states to determine their own cannabis policies without the threat of interference. The bill also provides funding to cannabis businesses owned by women and people of color through the Small Business Administration; funds studies on traffic safety, impairment detection technology, and health effects of cannabis; restricts advertising that could appeal to children; and sets aside $100 million over five years to help states develop streamlined procedures for expunging or sealing prior cannabis convictions.

“We commend Senator Schumer for joining the growing chorus of Congressional leaders stepping forward with alternatives to the failed prohibition of marijuana,” said Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). “With millions of Americans already living in states that successfully regulate adult-use cannabis and support for national legalization at record levels, this legislation would finally align federal marijuana policies with mainstream voter sentiment.”

This is the second comprehensive cannabis policy reform bill introduced this month. On June 7, Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the STATES Act, which creates exemptions in the Controlled Substances Act for states that have made cannabis legal for medical or adult use. There are several other pieces of cannabis-related legislation also being considered in Congress.

The introduction of the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act also comes a day after voters in Oklahoma approved a medical cannabis ballot initiative, making it the 30th state with an effective medical cannabis law.

A Quinnipiac University poll released in April found 63% of Americans support legalizing marijuana and 70% oppose federal interference with state-authorized cannabis programs. Cannabis is legal for adults in nine states and the District of Columbia, and there are currently 46 states that allow cannabis in some form.

Bipartisan Legislation Seeking to Protect State-Legal Marijuana Programs Introduced Today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 7, 2018

CONTACT:
Morgan Fox, Media Relations Director
202-780-1302, Morgan@TheCannabisIndustry.org

 

Historic Bipartisan Legislation Seeking to Protect State-Legal Marijuana Programs Introduced Today

 

Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Offer Comprehensive Solution to Federal Conflict with Cannabis Laws in 46 States and the District of Columbia  

 

Washington, DC – Bipartisan Senate legislation that would end the federal conflict with state marijuana laws was introduced today, amid growing public support for the legal cannabis industry.

The bipartisan legislation, Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act of 2018, would exempt individuals in compliance with state marijuana laws and a set of new federal guidelines from certain provisions of the federal Controlled Substances Act. The legislation, announced in a press conference Thursday by Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), does not remove federal criminal penalties for illicit marijuana behavior but would end federal interference with state and tribal laws that have regulated the production, sale, and personal consumption of cannabis for medical patients and adults age 21 and older.

A bipartisan companion bill was also introduced by Rep. David Joyce (R-OH) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) in the House.

“State-level marijuana reforms are successfully replacing criminal markets with tightly regulated businesses that contribute hundreds of millions in tax revenue and generate tens of thousands of jobs. This legislation allows states to make their own decisions on how cannabis is treated within their borders and would be an important step toward protecting the legal businesses that make up one of the nation’s fastest growing industries,” said Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), in support of the bill. “Now that a majority of congressional representatives hail from states with some form of legal cannabis, we look forward to the passage of this important legislation so that states will no longer fear federal interference with their successful cannabis programs and our industry can reach its full potential as an alternative to underground markets.”

A Quinnipiac University poll released in April found 63% of Americans support legalizing marijuana and 70% oppose federal interference with state-authorized cannabis programs. Sen. Gardner announced in April that President Trump indicated that he would sign legislation supporting states’ rights on the issue.

The introduction of this landmark bill comes just two weeks after NCIA’s 8th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days, the largest Washington, D.C. fly-in for the legal marijuana industry. Over 200 cannabis industry professionals participated in hundreds of meetings with congressional offices to advocate in support of proposed federal marijuana reforms.

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