Should we protect state laws regarding marijuana legalization?
Bill Summary
This bill amends the Controlled Substance Act to ensure that the Act’s regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties do not apply to a person producing, possessing, or distributing marijuana as long as they are in compliance with their state’s laws regarding the drug. Sponsor: Rep. Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA-48]; 7 Democratic and 7 Republican Cosponsors
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Opponents say
• Allowing recreational use of marijuana could be interpreted as condoning drug use more widely.
• Marijuana legalization has numerous consequences for public health and safety. For example, Colorado saw an uptick in children visiting emergency rooms after eating marijuana edibles.
• Under federal law marijuana is still considered an illegal substance and should be prohibited accordingly.
• Some argue that marijuana is indeed addictive, and a gateway drug to harder drugs, unlike alcohol.
• Marijuana legalization has numerous consequences for public health and safety. For example, Colorado saw an uptick in children visiting emergency rooms after eating marijuana edibles.
• Under federal law marijuana is still considered an illegal substance and should be prohibited accordingly.
• Some argue that marijuana is indeed addictive, and a gateway drug to harder drugs, unlike alcohol.
Proponents say
• Federal law enforcement should not waste its time on any mass enforcement action, particularly concerning marijuana (which is considered a lower priority for federal drug agents) in states where it is considered legal. In general, most drug enforcement operations are carried out by state and local authorities.
• Science has discredited the idea that marijuana serves as any kind of gateway drug, and the addiction and death rates associated with opioids do not occur in any way with cannabis (Press Secretary Spicer suggested a link between marijuana use and widespread abuse of painkillers as a reason to get federal law enforcement agents involved).
• Marijuana legalization should be a state issue; the federal government does not have the right to intervene.
• National polls show that ~60% of Americans support legalizing marijuana.
• Science has discredited the idea that marijuana serves as any kind of gateway drug, and the addiction and death rates associated with opioids do not occur in any way with cannabis (Press Secretary Spicer suggested a link between marijuana use and widespread abuse of painkillers as a reason to get federal law enforcement agents involved).
• Marijuana legalization should be a state issue; the federal government does not have the right to intervene.
• National polls show that ~60% of Americans support legalizing marijuana.
