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The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act and Marijuana Data Collection Act

Several new bills that support cannabis policy reform have been introduced in recent weeks. Last month, NCIA saw two bills reintroduced from last year, The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act and the Marijuana Data Collection Act, both of which received bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. In last year’s session, both bills had more than 30 co-sponsors each. The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act was first introduced in the House in 2011 in the 112th Congress.

This session’s pair of bills were introduced by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Rep. Don Young (R-AK).

The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act (H.R. 1588) would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and effectively allow states to determine their own cannabis policies and put an end to federal cannabis prosecutions. This is important for myriad reasons. First, it protects decisions that states have made to legalize marijuana, reflecting the will of the people and their elected representatives. Ending prohibition will also protect public safety by normalizing banking and other professional services. It will also save taxpayer monies by ending the “war on drugs” as it relates to federal enforcement of marijuana laws. Most significantly, it will allow important medical research to be conducted, free from fear of federal interference. NCIA is proud to include The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act in our priority legislation, and we look forward to working with members of Congress to build support for the bill.

The Marijuana Data Collection Act (H.R. 1587) would require the National Academy of Sciences to study and report on the status of state cannabis programs and their impact on public health, safety, and the economy. This is a critical first step in normalizing research into marijuana, including how state legalization has financially benefited states, how it has allowed for law enforcement to focus on more important public safety priorities, and how scientific research can benefit medicinal patients nationwide.

On March 7, a press conference hosted by NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri was held at the House Triangle of the U.S. Capitol to announce the bills. NCIA’s Government Relations team attended and captured photos of this historic announcement.

If you’re interested in lobbying in support of this bill, or any others, make sure you register for NCIA’s 9th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days in Washington, D.C. on May 21-23 so that you can tell congressional offices your personal story. There’s strength in numbers, and we can’t do it without you!

The 116th Congress – What To Expect

by Michelle Rutter, NCIA Government Relations Manager

As the 116th Congress begins, the momentum behind cannabis reform has reached an unprecedented level. Let’s take a look at the top three things you can expect from cannabis legislation in the newest congressional session:

Successes in the House of Representatives, but an uphill climb in the Senate. The 116th Congress is the first time in eight years that Democrats have held control of the House of Representatives. As a result, it is expected that cannabis legislation will garner hearings, appropriations amendments will be expanded, and a bill could even be reach the Floor and be voted on! That being said, it’s important to remember that the Senate is still controlled by the more conservative Republican battle, and any cannabis amendments or legislation that reaches that chamber will have a very serious uphill battle prior to passage.

More cosponsors. In the 115th Congress, the House’s SAFE Banking Act (H.R. 2215) had a record breaking 95 cosponsors, while the Senate version (S. 1152) had 20. That’s nearly a quarter of the House of Representatives and a fifth of the entire Senate! Bills to reform IRC Section 280E saw a similar spike– at the end of 2016, the House’s Small Business Tax Equity Act had a mere 18 cosponsors, while the Senate version had four. At the end of December, the Small Business Tax Equity Act (H.R. 1810) has 46 cosponsors, while the Senate’s version (S. 777) has six. In the 116th Congress, you can expect these bills and others to continue to gather record-breaking numbers of cosponsors- in both the House and Senate.

New bills. There are cannabis bills that are introduced every session, like the banking bill, 280E bill, and various pieces of states’ rights legislation. In the 115th Congress, advocates saw multiple new cannabis bills get introduced, like the Marijuana Data Collection Act, the Marijuana Justice Act, and the MAPLE Act. As the 116th Congress continues, you can expect almost all of the cannabis related bills from last session to get reintroduced, but will likely also see a plethora of new legislation be filed that will address many different issues.

While the opportunities for cannabis reform are numerous, one thing is for sure: the 116th Congress will be one for the history books.

Join us on May 21-23, 2019 for NCIA’s 9th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days in Washington, D.C., to make our voices heard on Capitol Hill! This event is complimentary and exclusive to NCIA members. Registration opens February 11.

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