President Donald Trump on Friday publically expressed support for bi-partisan legislation that seeks to codify legal protections for state-sanctioned marijuana-related activities.
In response to a question from reporters, the President acknowledged that he “probably will end up supporting” The Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act of 2018, introduced last week by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO). Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has also reportedly promised to permit a vote on the legislation.
URGE YOUR FEDERAL LAWMAKERS TO SUPPORT THE STATES ACT OF 2018
The bill mandates that the federal Controlled Substances Act “shall not apply to any person acting in compliance” the marijuana legalization laws of their state. It also amends federal law to explicitly remove industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana. A bipartisan House companion bill, sponsored by Reps. David Joyce (R-OH) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), is also pending in the House of Representatives.
In April, Sen. Gardner acknowledged that he had spoken with the President regarding the intent of his bill and that Trump “assured me that he will support a federalism-based legislative solution to fix this states’ rights issue once and for all.”
For more information, contact Justin Strekal, NORML Political Director, at (202) 483-5500.
