Rep. Earl Blumenauer and The STATES Act: Bipartisan Measure Limits Federal Government’s Ability To Interfere With State-Sanctioned Marijuana Programs

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Gardner, along with Representative David Joyce re-introduced the  STATES Act (Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act), which would allow each state to determine its own marijuana policy within its borders.  Rep. Blumenauer stated “This is the highest profile legislation that has broad support on both sides of the capitol. I’ve also Introduced other legislation which could help advance this agenda, especially the Veterans Equal Access Act, to allow our veterans access to medical marijuana.”

The proposed bill states that the enforcement of federal law “shall not apply to any person acting in compliance with State law relating to the manufacture, production, possession, distribution, dispensation, administration, or delivery of marihuana.”

The STATES Act would be a good first step, if it was followed by banking and tax reform, and  H.R. 1647, the Veterans Equal Access Act, which expands medical cannabis access to eligible military veterans.