Several Republican members of Congress introduced a bill on Monday to federally legalize and tax marijuana as an alternative to pending far-reaching Democratic-led reform proposals and scaled-down GOP cannabis descheduling legislation.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is sponsoring the bill—titled the States Reform Act—along with a handful of initial Republican cosponsors. It would end federal marijuana prohibition while taking specific steps to ensure that businesses in existing state markets can continue to operate unencumbered by changing federal rules.
Unlike more modest measures previously championed by some of Mace’s GOP colleagues, this legislation—an updated draft version of which was obtained by Marijuana Moment over the weekend—represents an attempt to bridge a partisan divide. It does that by incorporating certain equity provisions such as expungements for people with non-violent cannabis convictions and imposing an excise tax, revenue from which would support community reinvestment, law enforcement and Small Business Administration (SBA) activities.
“This bill supports veterans, law enforcement, farmers, businesses, those with serious illnesses, and it is good for criminal justice reform,” Mace said in a statement on Monday. “The States Reform Act takes special care to keep Americans and their children safe while ending federal interference with state cannabis laws.”
“Washington needs to provide a framework which allows states to make their own decisions on cannabis moving forward,” the congresswoman said. “This bill does that.”
Watch the press conference announcing the new legalization bill in the video below:
Marijuana Moment first reported on an earlier draft version of the bill earlier this month, and it quickly became apparent that industry stakeholders see an opportunity in the Republican-led effort.
The reason for that response largely comes down to the fact that there’s skepticism that Democratic-led legalization bills will be able to pass without GOP buy-in. While Democrats hold majorities in both chambers, in addition to controlling the White House, the margins for passage are slim.
A Democratic-led bill to end prohibition and promote social equity did clear the House Judiciary Committee in September. And Senate leadership is preparing to file a separate legalization proposal after unveiling a draft version in July.
Weldon Angelos, an advocate who’s worked with Mace’s office on the legislation alongside partners at the Cannabis Freedom Alliance (CFA), told Marijuana Moment that a main objective of the bill is to facilitate a bipartisan conversation about what legalization should look like. And while there’s more he’d like to see done, particularly in the way of social equity provisions, the advocate feels this is a strong starting point.
“The whole idea behind the Cannabis Freedom Alliance wasn’t to have the Republicans steal this [issue] from the Democrats. Just so we’re clear, that’s not the reason behind this bill,” Angelos, who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump for a federal marijuana conviction, said. “The people behind the scenes, like my organization, just want to make this a reality. And we can’t get there without this step, which is this bill that’s been introduced by Congresswoman Nancy Mace.”
. #StatesReformAct will #EndCannabisProhibition at fed level, protect kids, & simply allow states to set their own #cannabis policy @PoliceForReform @weldon_angelos @ReasonFdn @AFPhq @RSI @EndItForGoodMS @sfliberty @NevadaPolicyRI @ConsumerChoiceC @RepNancyMace #LegalizeIt pic.twitter.com/t4w9bubySO
— Cannabis Freedom Alliance (@CannabisFreedo1) November 15, 2021
Under the new Mace legalization bill, which is primarily aimed at having the federal government treat marijuana in a similar manner to alcohol, cannabis would be removed from the Controlled Substances Act, with retroactive effects for people previously punished.
Prior federal cannabis convictions would need to be expunged within one year. People affiliated with cartels or who have been convicted of driving under the influence would not be eligible for the relief, however. Mace’s office estimates that about 2,600 people will be released from federal incarceration under the provision.
Justin Strekal, political director of NORML, told Marijuana Moment that if the congresswoman and her allies follow through, “then we will have truly shifted the debate from a partisan ‘Do we legalize’ framework to a bipartisan ‘We will legalize marijuana and erase the criminal records of those who have suffered under criminalization.’”
There would be a 3 percent federal excise tax on cannabis under the bill. That’s somewhat less than the 3.75 percent included in an initial draft of Mace’s bill that Marijuana Moment reported on earlier this month, and is significantly lower than tax rates in Democrat-led marijuana bills.
The Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)—renamed as the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Tax and Trade Bureau—would be the chief regulator for marijuana with respect to interstate commerce and international trade. The agency would create a track and trace system for cannabis, and federal officials would be authorized to issue packaging and labelling requirements for products.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would be limited in its regulatory authority, with the intent being that it would have no more control over cannabis than it does for alcohol except when it comes to medical cannabis. The agency could prescribe serving sizes, certify designated state medical cannabis products and approve and regulate pharmaceuticals derived from marijuana, but could not ban the use of cannabis or its derivates in non-drug applications, like in designated state medical cannabis products, dietary supplements, foods, beverages, non-drug topicals or cosmetics.
Enforcement authority would be transferred from the Drug Enforcement Administration to a newly renamed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Cannabis, Firearms and Explosives.
Raw cannabis would be considered an agricultural commodity regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The plant would be treated like the “component crops of alcohol beverages” such as barely, hops and grain, a summary from Mace’s office explains.
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A federal permit would be required to operate a cannabis business, and certain past marijuana convictions could render someone ineligible to obtain it.
The legislation would grandfather existing state-licensed cannabis operators into the federal scheme to ensure continued patient access and incentivize participation in the legal market.
As federal agencies work to promulgate rules, there would be safe harbor provisions to protect patients and marijuana businesses acting in compliance with existing state laws.
Revenue from federal marijuana taxes would go to a newly created Law Enforcement Retraining and Successful Second Chances Fund, and distributed to programs under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, the Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring program, a new Successful Second Chances program under the Small Business Administration (SBA), veterans mental health programs, state programs to combat opioid addiction and efforts to prevent youth cannabis use.
A national age limit of 21 would be set for legal recreational marijuana products, which would be enforced by withholding funds from any state that seeks to lower that age. The limit would not apply to medical cannabis. Advertisements targeting minors or that are misleading would be banned.
The Treasury Department would be required to conduct periodic studies on the characteristics of the cannabis industry and issue recommendations for improving regulations and tax administration. The Bureau of Labor Statistics would also be directed to regularly report data on marijuana industry ownership and employment.
Military veterans could not be discriminated against in hiring for federal positions due to cannabis consumption, and doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs would be allowed to issue medical marijuana recommendations. People who left the military with other than honorable, bad conduct or dishonorable discharges solely for cannabis offenses would be entitled to an upgrade to a general discharge.
Federal agencies could continue drug testing employees for marijuana.
Cannabis business would become eligible for SBA loans and other relief.
The U.S. Trade Representative would be directed to send trade missions to other countries that have legalized cannabis imports and exports.
All references to “marijuana” or “marihuana” in federal laws and regulations would be changed to “cannabis.”
The bill is receiving early praise from across the political spectrum.
“The States Reform Act represents an opportunity for leaders in Congress to create stability and security for the American people,” Brent Gardner, chief government affairs officer for the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity, said in a press release. “The failures of the War on Drugs are well-known and well-documented, and it is past time to move on from this misbegotten effort. Meanwhile, the developing cannabis industry cannot truly develop into an engine of entrepreneurship and second chances until cannabis sheds its uncertain federal legal status. This bill is a common-sense policy change that will create a free and fair regulatory system and ensure law enforcement is focused on preventing and solving serious crime.”
Lt. Diane Goldstein (Ret.), executive director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), told Marijuana Moment that “the States Reform Act is a terrific example of the federal bureaucracy finally catching up to what states are doing right.”
“It’s by no means a cure all, but it is a signal that our policy makers are taking a new, bipartisan, approach when it comes to setting drug policy for the country by following the science,” she said.
.@dianemgoldstein “Prohibition is a failed policy…[police] have seen how #decriminalization has allowed them to focus on real crime and improved relations with the communities they serve.”
Read our full letter in support of the #StatesReformAct here: https://t.co/mtTEAAfOt9
— The Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) (@PoliceForReform) November 15, 2021
Randal John Meyer, executive director of the Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce (GACC), said that the bill’s introduction “is a historic moment for the cannabis industry, with major legislation now being introduced by members of both political parties.”
“The States Reform Act stands with the MORE Act and the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act as one of the truly comprehensive cannabis reform bills introduced in this Congress, and GACC is proud to support all three,” he said, referring to Democratic-led reform bills advancing in the House and Senate.
Strekal of NORML said “Representative Mace, along with multiple other Republicans, has put forward comprehensive and sensible legislation to repeal marijuana criminalization and this effort deserves serious consideration.”
“Between the previously passed MORE Act, the recent Senate proposal by Leader Schumer, and this new bill, it is truly a race to the top for the best ideas and smartest approaches to responsible reform,” he said.
Some advocates have pointed out areas where they would like to see the legislation amended.
“The States Reform Act should remove the disqualifying offenses based on cannabis consumption and sales and instead disqualify applicants who have engaged in corporate crimes or fraud,” Parabola Center’s Shaleen Title, a former Massachusetts cannabis regulator, told Marijuana Moment of the provisions concerning who can qualify for a federal marijuana permit.
Some Republicans have led, or joined their Democratic colleagues, on other marijuana bills, but they’ve generally been far more scaled back measures—simply protecting states that choose to legalize or descheduling cannabis without touching social equity issues or creating a federal tax on sales.
In any case, polling shows that the public is ready for an end to prohibition. Sixty-eight percent of U.S. adults said they back legalizing cannabis in a Gallup poll released this month—and that includes majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents.
Yet, despite that support, President Joe Biden continues to oppose adult-use legalization. Instead, he’s supportive of more modest proposals to federally decriminalize cannabis, legalize the plant for medical use and let states set their own policies.
Whether he’d sign any Democratic- or Republican-led legalization bill is an open question.
While the president is personally against comprehensively ending prohibition, the Congressional Research Service released a report this month explaining steps he and his administration could take to repair the harms of cannabis criminalization.
Read the text of the Mace legalization bill below:
Biden’s FDA Pick Prescribed Cannabinoid Medicine And Recognized Marijuana’s Therapeutic Potential
Image element courtesy of Tim Evanson.
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