A Republican-controlled House committee has rejected a GOP member’s attempt to simply ask the White House to work with federal agencies to study state marijuana regulatory models and develop a national framework to prepare for the possibility that cannabis is federally legalized.
On Thursday, Rep. Dave Joyce introduced an amendment at a House Appropriations Committee meeting that would have requested the administrative review. After he and two Republican legislators asked for committee support, the amendment was rejected in a vote by voice. It didn’t get enough support to force a vote by roll call.
The committee’s defeat came on the same day it considered a underlying spending measure that maintained a long-standing rider that prevents Washington, D.C., from using local tax dollars to implement an organized cannabis sale system.
The Congressman’s defeated Amendment to the Appropriations Report would have, on the other hand, called for the White House to coordinate an assessment of the adequacy of the cannabis regulatory frameworks of these states, including the commonalities and innovative approaches to enforcement and supervision.
Joyce’s amendment is very similar to the standalone bill he introduced in April with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY. This legislation–the Preparing Regulators for a Post-Prohibition Adult-Use Regulated Environment Act–would also require the attorney-general to create a panel of representatives from various agencies in order to prepare the federal government for eventual legalization.
The congressman stated at the Thursday markup that “we as legislators will be better able to consider policies which align tax frameworks, and improve public safety and health.” “Each state did this independently.” “Some states have achieved better results than others.”
He added, “We need to have a similar regulatory framework. I ask that you gather information from other states to allow us to examine it if cannabis becomes legal in all 50 states.”
Rep. Tom Cole, who chairs the Rules Committee of the separate House, expressed support for the amendment. He said that the highly criticized launch of Oklahoma’s Medical Cannabis Program underscores the importance of better understanding what regulatory models work.
Cole stated, “I think my friend’s amendement is very important. It’s about having adequate information and understanding what the regulatory issues really are. This is a thoughtful and helpful way to do it, because we have no choice but to deal with this issue. Understanding the best way to regulate and deal with this issue, and educating the public on it, is a valuable contribution.
Rep. Mark Amodei, R-NV, also spoke about the amendment. He said that, while he found it “a little thin” in details, it represents “a step forward.” However, the measure failed in a voice vote, and there was not enough support for a formal roll call.
This is the complete text of the amendment:
The Committee is aware that more than 20 states now allow the use adult-use cannabis and over 35 states permit cannabis to be used for medicinal purposes. The Committee urges the Executive Office of the president, in consultation with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and other agencies that may have regulatory expertise, to coordinate an evaluation of the adequacy of the cannabis regulatory frameworks of these states, including novel approaches to enforcement and supervision.
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The House Republican majority has consistently opposed cannabis reform. Thursday’s rejection of the modest proposal that simply suggested to the White House to begin planning for legalization is just one of many recent examples. It raises further questions about other incremental marijuana legislation like the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (SAFE), which already faces a tight deadline in the summer session for Senate action as Democrats and Republicans continue to debate a section of banking regulations, that’s proven contentious.
Early Thursday morning, the House Republican leadership in Rules Committee also blocked many cannabis and psychedelics Amendments that were part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Several of these were led by GOP only members, while others were bipartisan.
The vote on Thursday against the Joyce Amendment is also similar to a GOP-led defeat in April of an attempt made by Senate Democrats, to bring a bipartisan measure to the floor of the Senate to study medical cannabis for veterans.
The first half of this year has left the impression that being bipartisan isn’t enough to convince the Republican caucus that these measures should be enacted.
Michigan Officials Vote to End Pre-Employment Marijuana Tests for Most Government Workers
Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
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