Lawmakers Optimistic About New Federal Marijuana Bill

A bipartisan group in Congress has reintroduced an expansive bill that would protect the cannabis industry in legal states

A large bipartisan group of lawmakers are dropping legislation later this morning that would end the federal prohibition on marijuana by allowing each state or territory to decide their own pot policy, and unlike in years past — this time they think it actually has a chance of becoming law.

The legislation — dubbed the STATES (Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States) Act — would amend the Controlled Substances act to limit what federal action against those operating legally in states with medical or recreational programs. The law is being released today with 13 Democratic and 13 Republican cosponsors in the House, and supporters say that number is only expected to grow in the coming weeks and months because the legislation is relatively simple and straightforward.

“This is just giving them a level playing field. Respecting the rights of states – it doesn’t force a state to do anything that it doesn’t want to do,” Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who is arguably the most vocal marijuana supporter in Congress, told Rolling Stone.

House Democrats are pushing an array of bills to attack the discrepancy between the federal marijuana prohibition and the majority of states that have legalized marijuana in either recreational or medicinal form on numerous fronts. [Read More @ RollingStone]