Democrats Are Trying To Get Weed Regulated At The Federal Level

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With more than $7 billion in sales last year, Democratic lawmakers in pot-legal states are pushing for federal regulation of the industry. 

A recent article in The Hill said that Oregon Democrats, Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, have introduced legislation that would take marijuana off the list of federally banned drugs and have it taxed at a rate similar to alcohol and tobacco. They also ask for an end to federal criminal penalties for businesses operating in states that allow the use of pot for recreational purposes, as well as giving marijuana businesses access to the regulated banking system and the ability to claim federal deductions and tax credits.

Robert Capecchi, who oversees federal policy for the Marijuana Policy Project, states, “This is commonsense legislation that will eliminate the growing tension between federal and state marijuana laws…states are adopting laws designed to improve public safety by replacing the illegal marijuana market with a tightly regulated system of production and sales. The federal government should be working to facilitate that transition, not hinder it.”

So far, the Department of Justice (DOJ) hasn’t taken any actions towards legal marijuana states, and the Obama administration had deprioritized prosecution of marijuana-related activity, which effectively allowed the industry to operate in states where it is legal with no obstruction on the federal level.

However, with the new administration in the White House, public officials in states where marijuana has been legalized are wary. The new Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, has said that the feds will remain hands-off for now, but he has a history of being openly hostile towards marijuana use in any form.

While these measures are unlikely to advance in a Republican-controlled Congress, marijuana advocates hope ‘the increasing number of states where legalization initiatives have passed will mean more allies in Congress.’

For example; “Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) sponsored the measure to block Justice from suing over marijuana. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) has sponsored legislation with Blumenauer to expand access to the banking system for pot businesses. And Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced legislation to allow doctors working for the Department of Veterans Affairs to discuss medical marijuana with their patients.”