Congressman Introduces Legislation to Remove Cannabis from Controlled Substances List
The end of cannabis prohibition could soon be on the horizon. 5th District Congressman Thomas Garrett has introduced legislation which could make that goal a reality. The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017 would remove cannabis completely from the federal controlled substances list. The bill was originally introduced by Bernie Sanders in 2015, the first presidential candidate in American history to do so.
Representative Garrett is introducing the bipartisan legislation again, hoping to create a “level playing field” across the nation. Under the legislation, cannabis could be federally regulated such as the alcohol or tobacco industries. During Jeff Sessions confirmation as Attorney General, he said that if legislators don’t like his approach, they should change the laws accordingly—which is why the congressman is choosing to introduce the bill at this time.
“I have long believed justice that isn’t blind, isn’t justice,” Garrett stated in a press release. “Statistics indicate that minor narcotics crimes disproportionately hurt areas of lower socio-economic status and what I find most troubling is that we continue to keep laws on the books that we do not enforce. Virginia is more than capable of handling its own marijuana policy, as are states such as Colorado or California.” Garrett continued “this step allows states to determine appropriate medicinal use and allows for industrial hemp growth, something that will provide a major economic boost to agricultural development in Southside Virginia. In the coming weeks, I anticipate introducing legislation aimed at growing the hemp industry in Virginia, something that is long overdue.” Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is the original lead cosponsor of the bill.
Meanwhile, H.R. 715, otherwise known as the Compassionate Access Act, is sitting at a standstill. The bill must be reviewed by numerous committees before it can be passed on to the House for vote. The Compassionate Access Act would amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude CBD, which would open the flood gates for the CBD industry. H.R. 975, otherwise known as Respect State Marijuana Laws Act of 2017, would protect states that have enacted cannabis laws. H.R. 975 has not yet been passed on to the House. It’s definitely an exciting time for federal cannabis law reform.
