The office of a Republican congressman has told Marijuana Moment the bill will be “different” than versions he filed in previous sessions.
Rep. Dave Joyce, R-OH, co-chairman of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus will be refiling Strengthening Tenth Amendment through Entrusting States Act — a bill which would amend the Controlled Substances Act to remove federal criminalization for people who act in compliance with state marijuana programs.
In an interview with Forbes published on Monday, Joyce said that the bill’s purpose is to promote state’s rights and to send a clear message to the federal governments that they “should get out of their own way”. The bill’s finalization is ongoing, but it is not yet known when Joyce will formally reintroduce the legislation.
A spokesperson for the congressman confirmed to Marijuana Moment that they were working on a bill similar to the STATES Act “but different than what we have introduced in the past.”
Joyce has also introduced legislation to remove marijuana from the CSA, effectively legalizing the drug at the federal government level. He’s also pushed for bipartisan measures that will prepare the government to legalize cannabis and encourage state-level expungements.
His office has not specified how the proposal was changed since its first introduction in 2019.
The congressman stated that “each state has its own specifics” when it comes to marijuana laws. But they share a common regulatory framework designed to reduce the illegal market, prevent youth usage and provide adults with safe and non-contaminated cannabis products.
Joyce stated that after he files the revised STATES Act he will build a strong coalition of bipartisans to demonstrate to the leadership that he is able to pass the bill and “hopefully” get it on the floor.
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The sponsors of the Senate version of the bill – former Sen. Cory Gardner, R-CO, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA – tried to attach the marijuana legislation as an amendment in 2018 to a larger criminal justice reform measure. But that didn’t work out.
Joyce also said that he is optimistic about the prospects of passing another bipartisan marijuana law, which he sponsors this session. The Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (SAFE), which protects financial institutions against being penalized simply because they are working with state-legal cannabis companies.
This bill has been passed by the House several times in recent years. However, this year it is being led by Senate. Senate leadership wanted to move the bill through committee in the summer session. However, partisan disagreements on one section delayed action. Since then, key bipartisan legislators have expressed optimism that the legislation will be advanced this fall. However, insiders’ predictions about a Senate Banking Committee meeting next week are inaccurate. A committee spokesperson confirmed to Marijuana Moment Monday.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as Congress continues to push for incremental reforms in cannabis policy this session, is now conducting a review of marijuana scheduling following the recommendation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of Controlled Substances Act.
Senate Committee’s Vote on Marijuana Banking Bill “Won’t be Next Week,” Despite Insiders Predictions, Chairman’s Office
Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
The first time Marijuana Moment published the post GOP congressman plans to introduce a ‘different’ version of bill to protect state marijuana programs from federal interference.
