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Griffith, Craig Introduce Two Pieces of Legislation to Create Pathway for CBD Regulation

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Bills Would Regulate Food and Dietary Supplements Made with CBD

Ohio Congressman Dave Joyce Statement on White House Cannabis Announcements

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14), a Republican Co-Chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, issued the following statement in response to the White House announcement regarding cannabis expungement and descheduling efforts:

“With nearly two thirds of Americans in agreement on the need for federal cannabis reform and 76% of Republicans in support of the federal government removing any obstacles if states choose to legalize cannabis, I’m pleased to see the White House begin to seriously engage on the topic. 

“Last year, my late colleague and Republican Cannabis Caucus Co-Chair, Don Young, and I called on the President multiple times to reschedule cannabis under the Federal Controlled Substances Act. I applaud the President for listening and rejecting the all-or-nothing approach demanded by so many in his own party.

“I also commend the President’s recognition of the need for state and local level expungement efforts. The bulk of petty, non-violent cannabis convictions take place at the state and local level, so to truly remedy the unjust war on cannabis, we must start there and vacate antiquated offenses that are no longer even considered a crime. More than 14 million cannabis-related records at the state and local level continue to preclude Americans from stable housing and gainful employment – two cornerstones of safe and prosperous communities.

“Republicans have long championed policies that help remove barriers preventing people from achieving their American dream, especially barriers created by the federal government. Incentivizing the expungement of these state and local records and addressing their unjust consequences, is — and can further be — a bipartisan cause. If lawmakers work across the aisle and build on the bipartisan consensus established by the HOPE Act and the PREPARE Act, we can take unprecedented action to transform lives, pave the way for millions of Americans to reach their full potential, and give lawmakers on both sides of the aisle the answers they need to legislate not only a responsible end to prohibition but also a safer future for our communities.

“Today’s announcement from the White House recognizes two truths: that continued and complete federal cannabis prohibition is no longer the will of the American electorate, and that the President knows his party’s all-or-nothing approach to cannabis reform has failed to produce results in Congress.

“The President has acted. Now it’s time for Congress to do the same. Passing bills that simply check the box on this issue won’t get the job done. We need legislation that can establish the bipartisan consensus necessary to become law. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in both chambers to make that a reality and stand ready, willing, and able to work in good faith on this issue with anyone regardless of political affiliation.”

Congressman Blumenauer Applauds Biden’s Actions to Pardon Prior Marijuana Offenses

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Announcement comes after Blumenauer, Lee called on Biden to Pardon Federal Cannabis Offenses in 2021

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus released the following statement welcoming President Biden’s announcement to pardon all simple, non-violent cannabis offenders:

“Today, President Biden took an important step in the fight to end the federal government’s failed and discriminatory prohibition of cannabis. No president has stepped forward to pardon low-level marijuana offenders at this scale before. At a time when 99% of Americans live in a state where some form of cannabis use is legal, it is unthinkable that anyone—especially predominantly Black, Latinx, and Indigenous Americans—are imprisoned for simple, nonviolent cannabis possession.

“This is a critical important step forward for racial justice in the failed war on drugs that too often targeted people of color, especially Black and Latino men. While this order is welcome and long overdue, it is just the first step of many that this Administration should take.

“We have pending legislation that deals with medical marijuana research and the ability for cannabis businesses to access banking services—both of which have gained support in the House and Senate. The President should embrace and celebrate. It is critical that we put the full force of the federal government behind them.

“There was a time when this was controversial. Yet for several years, the federal government has been left behind by people and states who did not wait. Not only does more than two-thirds of the public support full legalization, even half of American Republicans are also ready to end this chapter of the failed war on drugs. We welcome this action and hope it is the first of several noncontroversial critical steps to promote justice, equity, and rational policy.”

OLCC Implores Congressional Representatives to Make Safe Banking A Top Priority Now

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Cash-laden Cannabis Businesses targeted

OREGON:  Outdated federal barriers to banking services continue to severely impact the legal cannabis industry in Oregon and nationwide. The problem isn’t just about the convenience of engaging in daily banking transactions like any other business, but is a direct safety issue as cannabis businesses are known to have large amounts of cash. 

Industry is looking to regulators for support and action. In response, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC), issued a letter to each of Oregon’s Congressional Representatives calling out the urgent need to remove federal barriers that prevent legal cannabis businesses from obtaining access to banking.

While cannabis may be legal in Oregon, criminal enterprises are very aware of this impediment and target cannabis businesses. Workers have been threatened at gunpoint, assaulted and tragically even killed. Business owners find themselves upgrading their security systems and replacing smashed windows. Product is often also stolen or destroyed which reduces the ability of these businesses to be successful, and threatens the industries’ viability.

“Cannabis banking should be a priority,” stated OLCC Chair Paul Rosenbaum. He continued, “This is certainly an achievable policy step that will save lives – now.”

Cannabis industry leaders and regulators have repeatedly called for reform. The Oregon Legislature has led the way by working with in state credit unions to provide some financial services. However, those services are limited, and come with large fees as these credit unions are subject to robust reporting requirements. Larger financial players and more options would provide tremendous relief to the industry.

Oregon regulators have acknowledged the difficulty of complete legalization of cannabis, but have called for focused legislation that would directly provide relief to these businesses by providing access to financial services. While Congress has considered changes previously, it now seems unlikely that change will occur this year.

Rosenbaum closed OLCC’s letter by stating, “Legitimate cannabis businesses, licensed by the State of Oregon, under state law, should no longer be denied access to the banking system of our country, as if they are not part of the fabric of our union”.

A full copy of OLCC’s letter can be found here.

Congressman Blumenauer Urges Department of Transportation to Reform Driver Impairment Testing

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:  Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Co-Chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, released a letter urging the Department of Transportation to reform and modernize cannabis testing requirements for commercial truck drivers.

In the past two years, tens of thousands of commercial drivers have been forced out of the profession not because they are impaired on the job, but because imprecise testing practices trigger penalties for use of state-legal medical or adult-use cannabis in the days or weeks prior to testing.

“As the United States faces an unprecedented supply chain crisis, tens of thousands of commercial drivers are being disqualified from service due to past cannabis use. These disqualifications deny people the right to earn a living, reduce the workforce when drivers are desperately needed, and penalize people of color and patients who legally use medical cannabis,”Blumenauer wrote. “This crisis must be treated with urgency. Your department should rapidly reform requirements for testing drivers and returning them to service, as well as develop an accurate test for impairment.”

Read the full letter here.

Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Blumenauer, Lee Release Year-End Progress Memorandum, Outline Goals for 2022

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:  Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) today released a year-end progress memorandum that includes steps taken by Congress throughout 2021 in the cannabis space. Co-Chairs Blumenauer and Lee also detail their top priorities for 2022, including federal descheduling, sentencing reform, industry equity, and research. 

“The table is set and the time is right for comprehensive cannabis reform, which will make a huge difference for people around the country,” said Co-Chair Blumenauer. “This year, we’ve advanced the MORE Act closer to the finish line, passed the SAFE Banking Act, and made progress in terms of research. Most importantly, we’ve watched this issue gain more momentum than ever with the American people—almost 70 percent of whom, including a majority of Republicans, want to see federal reform. Let’s get it done.”

“It’s time for the federal government to catch up to the rest of the country and start leading on cannabis reform,” said Co-Chair Lee. “The solutions for comprehensive reform are there, and this year we made progress. We’ve passed the MORE Act in the House, the SAFE Banking Act, and several Appropriations provisions. It’s far past time Congress move to finally get this across the finish line. Ending the war on drugs is an issue of racial equity and a moral imperative. I look forward to continuing my work with Cannabis Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Blumenauer to make strides toward comprehensive reform in the new year.

The memorandum is available here.

Congressman Don Young to President Biden and Vice President Harris: Keep Your Promise, Engage on Cannabis Reform

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:  Congressman Don Young (R-AK) and Congressman Dave Joyce (R-OH), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, sent a letter to President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala D. Harris, urging them to remove cannabis as a Schedule I substance and to engage in legislative efforts to reform federal cannabis policies. Click here for the full letter. 

Under current law, cannabis is classified as Schedule I substance alongside significantly more dangerous substances such as Heroin and LSD, and above far more dangerous drugs such as morphine, methadone and cocaine in the Schedule II category. This classification prevents cannabis from being accepted for medical use, causing research restrictions and preventing patients, including veterans, from accessing it.

Excerpts from the letter:

“Dear President Biden and Vice President Harris,

As Co-Chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, we once again urge you to reschedule cannabis under the Federal Controlled Substances Act.

Currently, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I substance, alongside significantly more dangerous substances such as Heroin and LSD, and above far more dangerous drugs such as morphine, methadone and cocaine in the Schedule II category. As a Schedule I substance, cannabis is not accepted for medical use on the federal level, which has caused significant research restrictions and continues to thwart the treatment of a wide range of patients, including those suffering from cancer as well as veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to those living with Multiple Sclerosis and seizure disorders. To be clear, we do not negate the benefit of traditional therapies, but question why the federal government continues to bar access to innovative, proven – and in many cases – safer alternatives.

As both legislative chambers continue to debate the merits of various common-sense proposals on the issue of cannabis reform and a complete end to federal prohibition garners more and more bipartisan support, your administration’s absence from these debates and lack of action on the topic is of serious concern.”

Read the full letter here.

Background:

  • Earlier this month, Congressman Don Young and his fellow Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs David Joyce (R-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, urging him to swiftly implement proposals to allow veterans to access medical cannabis. Click here for more.
  • On November 16th, Congressman Don Young helped introduce the States Reform Act with Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC), Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA), Congressman Peter Meijer (R-MI), and Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL). This legislation would protect state-legal cannabis policies by ending federal marijuana prohibition. Click here for more.
  • In May, Congressman Don Young helped Congressman Dave Joyce (R-OH) introduce the Common Sense Cannabis Reform for Veterans, Small Businesses and Medical Professionals Act. This bill ends federal marijuana prohibition by removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act. Click here for more.
  • In April, Congressman Don Young introduced the Gun Rights and Marijuana (GRAM) Act, legislation to secure the Second Amendment rights of Americans living in jurisdictions with legal adult-use and medicinal marijuana. Click here for more.

Ahead of Tomorrow’s D.C. Council Hearing on Recreational Marijuana Commercialization, Congresswoman Norton Says She is Closer Than Ever to Getting Rider Removed from D.C. Appropriations Bill

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:  Ahead of the Council of the District of Columbia’s hearing tomorrow on legislation to commercialize recreational marijuana, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she is closer than ever to removing the rider from the D.C. Appropriations bill that prohibits the District from spending local funds on commercialization of recreational marijuana. Norton was successful in getting the rider removed from the pending House and Senate versions of the fiscal year (FY) 2022 D.C. Appropriations bill, though President Biden’s FY 22 budget proposed maintaining it. 

“Eighteen states have legalized recreational marijuana, and all have or will commercialize it,” Norton said. “D.C. should be able to collect tax revenue from all available sources, like every other jurisdiction, including from recreational marijuana, which is believed to be widely used in the District and throughout the country. The D.C. Council hearing on marijuana commercialization legislation tomorrow is timely, because my effort to remove the appropriations rider from the fiscal year 2022 D.C. Appropriations bill would allow D.C.’s local legislation legalizing commercialization to pass and take effect.

“I will always fight to remove each and every rider because D.C. should have full control over how it chooses to spend local funds. Anything less is unacceptable.”

In 2014, District voters approved an initiative legalizing the possession by adults of small amounts of marijuana for recreational use. Republicans immediately imposed a rider on the D.C. Appropriations bill to try to block the initiative from taking effect, but Norton successfully argued that the rider was flawed and only blocked D.C. from spending its local funds to commercialize recreational marijuana. As a result, D.C. residents have been able to possess up to two ounces of marijuana for recreational use, but not purchase it.

Representative Nancy Mace Introduces The States Reform Act

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 Mace’s bill keeps Americans and their children safe while providing the framework for each state’s unique cannabis laws

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) released the following statement on The States Reform Act, filed today in the U.S. House: “Today, only 3 states lack some form of legal cannabis. My home state of South Carolina permits CBD, Florida allows medical marijuana, California and others have full recreational use, for example. 

Every state is different. Cannabis reform at the federal level must take all of this into account. And it’s past time federal law codifies this reality,” said Rep. Mace. “This is why I’m introducing the States Reform Act, a bill which seeks to remove cannabis from Schedule I in a manner consistent with the rights of states to determine what level of cannabis reform each state already has, or not.

“This bill supports veterans, law enforcement, farmers, businesses, those with serious illnesses, and it is good for criminal justice reform.

Furthermore, a super-majority of Americans support an end to cannabis prohibition, which is why only 3 states in the country have no cannabis reform at all. “The States Reform Act takes special care to keep Americans and their children safe while ending federal interference with state cannabis laws. Washington needs to provide a framework which allows states to make their own decisions on cannabis moving forward. This bill does that.”

Congresswoman Norton Requests HUD Permit Marijuana in Public Housing

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) wrote Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge today asking her to use executive discretion to not enforce rules against marijuana use in federally assisted housing in compliance with the marijuana laws of the state where the property is located.

“Individuals should not be denied admission to or fear eviction from federally assisted housing simply for treating their medical conditions or using a substance legal under state law,” Norton said. “Increasingly, Americans are changing their views on marijuana. Marijuana is legal in 36 states and the District of Columbia, and nobody should fear being thrown out of their home for using a product legalized by their state.”

Norton is the sponsor of the Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act of 2021, which would permit the use of marijuana in federally assisted housing in compliance with the marijuana laws of the state where the property is located.

The letter follows:

 

May 25, 2021

The Honorable Marcia Fudge

Secretary

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

451 Seventh Street SW

Washington, DC 20410

Dear Secretary Fudge:

I request that you use executive discretion to not enforce rules against marijuana use and possession in federally assisted housing, including public housing and Section 8 housing, in compliance with the marijuana laws of the state where the property is located.

Individuals living in federally assisted housing should not be denied admission, or face eviction, for using a legal product.  Adult use and/or medical marijuana is currently legal in 36 states and the District of Columbia, and over 90 percent of Americans support legalized medical marijuana.  The users of drugs that are illegal under federal law, including marijuana, are prohibited from being admitted into federally assisted housing.  Moreover, federal law allows landlords to evict residents of federally assisted housing for drug use.

The federal government has begun to change its approach to marijuana.  In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration approved Epidiolex, which is derived from marijuana.  Epidiolex is used to treat children who suffer from seizures.  For the last several years, Congress has prohibited the Department of Justice (DOJ) from using federal funds to prohibit jurisdictions from implementing their medical marijuana laws.  HUD, like DOJ, should not enforce federal marijuana laws where states have taken action to legalize marijuana.

Smoking marijuana in federally assisted housing should be treated in the same manner as smoking tobacco in federally assisted housing.

I ask that you respond in writing by June 21, 2021.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton