Congressional Cannabis Caucus

Congressional Cannabis Caucus

With public support for reforming marijuana laws at an all time high, United States Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Don Young (R-AK) have formed the first-ever Congressional Cannabis Caucus to promote sensible cannabis policy reform and to ease the tension between federal and state cannabis laws.

“We’re stepping forward together to say we’ve got to make major changes in our country’s attitude toward cannabis,” Rep. Rohrabacher said at the start of the press conference.  “And if we do, many people are going to live better lives, it’s going to be better for our country, better for people, and it makes economic sense at a time when every penny must count for government.”

Several of the leading marijuana lobbying groups and associations such as NORML, the Marijuana Policy Project, the Drug Policy Alliance, and others issued a joint statement commending the lawmakers for forming the Congressional Cannabis Caucus which will allow members from both parties, who represent diverse constituencies from around the country, to join together for the purpose of advancing sensible cannabis policy reform.

Federal Marijuana Protections Extended

US Congress Rohrabacher Farr Amendment

The US Congress has re-authorized the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment which prohibits the Justice Department from interfering in state-authorized medical marijuana programs.  The provision was included in short-term spending legislation, House Resolution 2028, and will expire on April 28, 2017.

The Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment was initially enacted by Congress in 2014, and provides that federal funds cannot be used to prevent states from “implementing their own state laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana.”  (H.Amdt.748)

In August, 2016, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in United States v. McIntosh, 833 F.3d 1163, 1177 (9th Cir. 2016), unanimously ruled that the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment bars the federal government from taking legal action against any individual involved in medical marijuana related activity absent evidence that the defendant is in clear violation of state law.

Because the provision is included as part of a Congressional spending package and does not explicitly amend the US Controlled Substances Act, members must re-authorize the amendment annually.