Several states are poised to go toe-to-toe with the federal government if the new administration makes any moves to curb recreational marijuana efforts.
Press secretary Sean Spicer piped up about the industry during his press conference on Feb. 23, making a very clear distinction that the White House will only be concerned with recreational marijuana in the eight states that have legalized it.
“There’s two distinct issues, here: medical marijuana and recreational marijuana,” Spicer said.
He compared the comfort medical marijuana brings to individuals to the apparent “encouragement” recreational marijuana gives to a “blossoming” opioid epidemic across the nation.
It may be difficult for Spicer to identify the causal link between recreational marijuana and opioid addiction, since experts have yet to see any evidence that marijuana is helping to fuel the opioid epidemic.
In fact, some studies show that states that legalize medical marijuana prescribe fewer opioids resulting in fewer overdoses.
Meanwhile, several members of congress have formed the new Congressional Cannabis Caucus to protect their states’ recreational marijuana industries and pass bills supporting the industry.
Members include Democratic Reps. Earl Blumenauer from Oregon, Dana Rohrabacher from California and Jared Polis from Colorado as well as Republican Rep. Don Young from Alaska.
Each of the members’ states have legalized recreational marijuana, though not all recreational states are represented in the new caucus, notably Washington, Nevada, Massachusetts and Maine.
Governors from those states have been firing messages to the new administration attempting to provide some insight into the recreational marijuana industry.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter on Feb. 15 to newly-appointed Attorney General Jeff Sessions boasting the state’s expected $272 million in taxes from marijuana in 2017.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper expressed reservations about pulling out of the recreational marijuana “experiment” on an MSNBC segment on Feb. 24. He pointed out that 60 percent of Americans live in a state with either legal recreational or medical marijuana.
Colorado raised $70 million in taxes in 2015 from its marijuana industry.
California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote a letter to President Donald Trump cautioning that a crackdown on marijuana would “strip the legal and publicly-supported industry of its business, and hand it back to drug cartels and criminals.”
Rohrabacher has also introduced H.R. 975 “Respect State Marijuana Laws,” a bill that would formally prohibit federal law enforcement from interfering with states’ marijuana programs. The act is essentially a legal extension on the Obama administration’s Cole Memo, which blocks the use of federal funds to uphold federal marijuana laws.
The political sparring between factions is only just beginning, yet the ball seems to be in the administration’s court. State level politicians and members of Congress will have to hold their ground against the strong arm of the Oval Office if they hope to hold onto their marijuana.
However it plays out, medical marijuana doesn’t seem to be in the administration’s sights, so if you have your green card, there’s little to worry about.
This article appears in Mar 2-8, 2017.
Thanks again, Nick Meyers;
For insight to happenings into views and happening in the Marijuana on the legislative undertaking happening now.
As Nick has pointed out the Medical legalized states seem to be out of the sight of the DOJ. With no doubt the states that have legalized now want to be a compassionate advocate. These states have built a revenue and not a companion to Medical Marijuana. These states want to see interstate commerce, finance, trade lobby, regulations, certifications all done by an independent quasi consortium of revenue and profit all run exempt of Federal oversight. This is the bone that now each state till have to chew on.
I believe the Safer Az and advocates like Tumbleweeds taking the time and efforts to publically discuss in open forum the truth to prop 205. All of the grassroots people that have been fighting as a personal use to promote life functions. Has saved Arizona and dodged a big bullet that was bound to be fired. It is unfathomable to think under any new administration that the current system left by the last administration was going to prevail.
I revel in the comfort that the monies in the states AZDHS/MMJ coffer didn’t go to this BS rouge government “Department of Marijuana License and Controls” There is 20 million + next 2 years what 35 million not squandered for frivolous BS. Just to throw Medical & the protections under the Bus.
What was lost for protections of Junk Bond Salesman turned compassionate advocate when the market turned. There was absolutely nothing lost in the non passage of prop 205. It was not legalization it was a limited plea bargain. To use marijuana with strict controls. Then medical would be self help with anything from Coptic ceremonies, drum beat gatherings, smoke lodges to legitimate holistic & medical would all be considered the same.
I hope a little hindsight is thought about here. Republicans will and do support the medical use of marijuana. I believe that has been shown the last two congress the house republicans stop all federal seizure but for DEA and those curtailed. The house republican stopped funding of the federal DOJ from arbitrary raids in legalized states and medical states that were not being administered. Martha McSally writing and helping the Compassionate Care ACT that instill medical marijuana will remain.
Here it is for all the liberal social builders by force. The majority of the house knows it demographics it is the blue collar rural, inner city bedroom communities that put both last two presidents in office. They need relief not protection from quasi cartel myths of marijuana rouge government agencies running around like the revenuers of the volstead act. They were corrupt and worse than the problem built the biggest criminal group in world history. A criminal that finances the labor gambling prostitution whatever illegal into drugs. That was the promise of prop 205.
I would love to see the marijuana revenue go to finance a full time legislature.
The Senate wants to pass a constitutional amendment in the next midterm giving them 4 year instead of 2 year terms. They sight other state that have them. Those states have all year and financed legislatures too. As it is now with the money behind the part time legislature and bogus committee assignments and cram all into midnight last minute committee votes by proxy to pass legislation is not working for the average arizona working citizen.
A simple proposition Excess of Medical Marijuana program which administrative & tax costs now can’t be increased. Will go to finance a full time legislature. With equal compensation of that GS 12 with facility staff and mailing allowances.