According to the Republican congresswoman who sponsored the bill, the Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives agreed to hold a debate and vote in a committee on a federal marijuana legalization bill.
Her office informed Marijuana moment on Thursday that as a condition to her support of leadership’s unrelated proposal for raising the debt ceiling and cutting various federal programs, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-SC, secured a markup by the State Reform Act (SRA), which she submitted last session.
This bill, which is not yet re-filed in the new Congress would end federal prohibition of marijuana while taking specific measures to ensure that existing state markets could continue to operate without being hindered by changes to federal rules.
Mace’s bill was among several cannabis reform proposals that were discussed at a House Oversight Subcommittee Hearing last summer, but ultimately it didn’t receive a vote.
The prospects for legalization in this Congress are significantly diminished with Republicans now controlling the House. However, Mace says that she has secured an action commitment from Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R – CA), who had struggled to convince the caucus of his party to support a debt ceiling proposal he initially opposed.
@RepNancyMace has been able to successfully advocate for the States Reform Act in the House. This is an incredibly positive development and shows the potential of meaningful cannabis reform in this Congress. https://t.co/3Xj3163I19
US Cannabis Council (@USCannabisCncl). April 26, 2020
William Hampson is the press secretary of the congresswoman. He told Marijuana Moment the deal was a “big victory for Rep. Mace, and for supporters of SRA. We’re thrilled to have the Speaker work with us on this.”
The bill, as introduced in the last session, contained provisions that were meant to appeal both sides of each aisle.
The bill included equity provisions, such as expungements of non-violent cannabis convictions, and called for a tax on marijuana. Revenues from the tax would be used to support law enforcement, community reinvestment and Small Business Administration activities.
The main goal of the legislation was to have the federal government treat marijuana in the same way as alcohol. It also removed the drug from the Controlled Substances Act, and provided retroactive effects for those who had been punished previously over the plant.
The law called for the expungement of previous federal cannabis convictions in one year after its enactment.
Mace’s SRA for the 118th Congress has not yet been filed, so the language and provisions could be revised. Mace’s spokesperson stated that “firm details,” on the filing and potential committee markup, are “still being worked out.”
The New York Times had earlier reported the cannabis deal Mace made with McCarthy. The congresswoman was quoted as praising her apparent success in securing commitments regarding “weed, guns and women” and stating that the two had “a very productive” conversation. Mace stated that she felt “heard” by the speaker.
She also , reportedly obtained agreements to advance separate legislative legislation on accessing reproductive health services and childcare and to hold a vote on a law concerning active shooter alarms.
Marijuana Moment contacted the Speaker’s Office to confirm Mace’s description of the agreement. However, no response had been received at time of publication. McCarthy may follow through with the idea of holding committee votes on Mace’s marijuana bill. However, it is not clear whether it will then be brought to the floor for consideration. This was not included in the agreement.
McCarthy has supported modest reforms, such as the cannabis banking legislation. However, he voted against bills to legalize marijuana and amendments that would protect businesses who follow state laws from federal prosecution.
McCarthy’s commitment to hold a bill markup is notable, given that he opposes broader reform. This position has been interpreted by advocates and stakeholders as meaning that the GOP House would not advance proposals to end the federal prohibition of cannabis.
The focus of lawmakers in both chambers has shifted to more incremental marijuana initiatives, such as a bill that protects banks who work with cannabis companies from being penalized federal regulators . This bill was submitted by bipartisan members of both chambers Wednesday.
Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (DNY) has said that he will be re-filing a bill of legalization in his chamber. However, it is expected that the bill will suffer the same fate as last year. It won’t advance due to the steep 60 vote threshold required to clear the body.
Schumer said he is “disappointed,” that the SAFE Plus package he worked on was not enacted. He said “we were close,” but that “we ran into resistance in the last moment.” He added that lawmakers will “continue to work in a bipartisan manner” in order to accomplish the task.
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In the first months of the new Congress, the majority leader has met with Democratic members and Republican members to discuss marijuana reform proposals which might be able to garner bipartisan support this year.
The idea of passing modest bipartisan marijuana legalization was seriously questioned on Wednesday, after Senate Republicans prevented a procedural motion that would have brought a bill before the Senate floor to promote research into the potential medical benefits of cannabis for veterans suffering from post-traumatic disorder (PTSD) or chronic pain.
Booker acknowledged that the failure to pass a banking solution for the cannabis industry would “literally” mean that hundreds of businesses will go out of business.
Blumenauer, a Democrat who last week filed a bill to allow marijuana businesses to claim federal tax deductions, stated at a press conference that it is important for advocates and legislators to align on incremental proposals that will end the war on drugs, cautioning against a “all or nothing” mentality.
On Thursday, bipartisan members of the House filed a bill that would give insurance companies a safe harbour if they work with state-legal marijuana businesses.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-FL, introduced legislation last Thursday to protect Second Amendment rights for people who use marijuana legally in states. This would allow them to buy and possess firearms which they are currently prohibited to have under federal law.
Reps. Dave Joyce, R-OH and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-NY have introduced a bill that would provide federal grants to encourage state and local marijuana expulsions.
In the beginning of this month, Joyce, along with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffreys (D-NY), filed a bill to help prepare the federal government to legalize marijuana. The measure directed the Attorney General to create a commission that would study cannabis and make recommendations on how to regulate it in a similar way to alcohol.
Under a bipartisan Congressional Bill, insurance companies that work with marijuana businesses would be protected.
Photo by Brian Shamblen.
The post House speaker pledges to give marijuana legalization bill a committee vote, GOP congresswoman says appeared initially on Marijuana Moment.
