OFF THE WIRE
Yes, the United States federal government might just legalize marijuana. Two congressmen just filed two separate House
Bills on Friday that together would legalize marijuana at the federal
level. That means an effective end to the U.S. government’s prohibition
policy on the plant.
Representative Jared Polis (D-Colorado) recently introduced the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act. This Bill proposes just what it sounds like. Marijuana would be legal, but regulated like alcohol. The Bill would completely remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act’s schedules.
The Drug Enforcement Administration would no longer have any say or oversight in policing and regulating the plant.
Instead, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, would
handle regulation of legal marijuana in the same way they regulate
alcohol.
Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) also introduced the separate Marijuana Tax Revenue Act,
which imposes a federal excise tax for regulated marijuana. While that
might sound like a huge bummer to marijuana users, it provides a big
incentive for politicians to make a progressive move on legalization.
States could still enact their own, individual prohibitions, but the federal ban that exists today would be gone.
Four states as well as the District of Columbia have completely
legalized recreational marijuana. Washington DC still prohibits the sale
of the plant, however. But beyond that, there are 23 states that have
legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Proponents of legalization say
it is only a matter of time before there is federal legalization… so
what better time than now?
“While President Obama and the Justice Department have allowed the
will of voters in states like Colorado and 22 other jurisdictions to
move forward, small business owners, medical marijuana
patients, and others who follow state laws still live with the fear
that a new administration — or this one — could reverse course and turn
them into criminals,” Representative Polis explained in a statement
released on Friday.
“It is time for us to replace
the failed prohibition with a regulatory system that works and let
states and municipalities decide for themselves if they want, or don’t
want, to have legal marijuana within their borders.”
Representative Blumenauer said that the federal prohibition of
marijuana has been “a failure” and a profound waste of tax dollars that
have needlessly ruined lives.
“As more states move to legalize marijuana as Oregon, Colorado,
Washington and Alaska have done,” Blumenauer added, “it’s imperative the
federal government become a full partner in building a workable and
safe framework.”
