Washington, D.C. - January 5, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- Attorney General Jeff Sessions made an announcement of his intentions to rescind the Obama-era non-interference policy and targeting of states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana use. This has prompted much reaction from House members. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI, 2nd) has denounced his decision and called on Congress to pass H.R.1227, the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, which removes marijuana from the federal controlled substances list.
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said:
“Attorney General Sessions' reversal of the current non-interference policy that essentially allowed states to implement their own marijuana laws without federal interference, tramples on states’ rights and is a dangerous escalation of the failed so-called War on Drugs. This overreach by the federal government undermines state governments like Hawaii’s that have legalized medical marijuana and threatens the livelihoods and rights of the people of Hawai‘i and those of the 29 states and Washington DC who have legalized some form of marijuana.
“This decision reinforces our outdated and destructive policies on marijuana that turn everyday Americans into criminals, tear families apart, and waste billions of taxpayer dollars to arrest, prosecute, and incarcerate people for nonviolent marijuana charges. Taxpayer dollars would be better spent tackling the many problems that plague the American people including combating the opioid epidemic, ensuring affordable housing, repairing aging infrastructure, and investing in education, healthcare, veterans’ care, and more.
“By continuing to pour billions of dollars down the drain with our archaic marijuana policies, we stifle our economy, society, and criminal justice system and leave the people of Hawai‘i and millions more devastated – all for a substance that is far less dangerous and harmful than alcohol. Our laws should accurately reflect scientific consensus – not misplaced stigma and outdated myths about marijuana.
“I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1227, the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, which would decriminalize marijuana by removing it from the federal controlled substances list, treating it the same as alcohol and tobacco. Our bipartisan legislation will end this unnecessary and costly debate once and for all by federally decriminalizing marijuana and kick-starting long overdue, common sense criminal justice reform.”
Other reactions are as follows:
Matt Gaetz (R-FL, 1st)
“This cruel plan is repugnant to the Tenth Amendment and harms some of our most vulnerable fellow Americans. In my district and nationwide, children have been helped by medical marijuana when all other treatments have failed. Some have gone from surgeries and seizures to baseball games and homecoming dances.
Veterans have ditched the ‘combat cocktail’ for soothing medical marijuana treatments and rejuvenated lives. AG Sessions’ policy would make sick children sicker. It would oppose the will of 81% of veterans, according to the American Legion. It will place the government between vulnerable people and something that could help them. This decision even flies in the face of President Trump, who expressed support for medical marijuana and state-level decision-making during his campaign, and stated on July 29, 2016 that “I think it should be up to the states.” While prosecution of bad actors is always welcome, it would be heartless to systemically use the awesome power of the federal government to punish people providing legitimate medicine.”
Ruben Gallego (D-AZ, 7th)
“I support full legalization of marijuana. As a member of the Arizona legislature, I introduced a bill that would have legalized marijuana possession and regulated and taxed marijuana in our state in a manner similar to alcohol. I wholly support these types of measures.
“Marijuana is less harmful than other regulated products, including alcohol, when used properly by adults. I believe that its regulation makes it even safer, and allows states to economically benefit through reasonable taxation – shifting production and sale of marijuana away from drug cartels and criminals and into the hands of taxpaying businesses that are subject to strict regulations.
“But this decision is also about so much more.
“Jeff Sessions’ irresponsible decision is not only an infringement on states’ rights, but it is bad policy that will disproportionately hurt Latino and black youth and the economically disadvantaged, who already face higher rates of prosecution and conviction for minor offenses.
“The Trump-Sessions Justice Department has weakened civil rights enforcement, increased mandatory minimum sentences, walked back monitoring of law enforcement agencies charged with civil rights abuses, and is now looking to ramp up prosecution of legalized marijuana.
“Jeff Sessions is a man whose entire career has been defined by his hostility towards civil rights and racial justice, and his tenure as the nation’s top law enforcement official has enabled him to continue this dangerous assault on our democracy.
“The American people deserve a Justice Department that will fight to protect the civil rights of all people instead of promoting bad policy motivated by racial animus.”
Colleen Hanabusa, (D-HI, 1st)
“The priorities of this administration continue to mystify me. America is struggling with an opioid epidemic that is killing 91 Americans a day but rather than focus effort and resources on stopping the illegal prescription drug market, the Justice Department is signaling to prosecutors that it is open season on marijuana dispensaries and businesses operating legally in states with established policies and procedures. What a complete waste of time. Hawaii is one of 21 states that permit medical use and we have more than 18,000 patients and issued licenses to eight dispensaries. Times have changed; more than half the population of this country lives in a place where marijuana is legal for recreational or medicinal use. We cannot turn back the clock the way the Attorney General seems to think we can. The state legislature must explore how to regulate and ensure public safety if Hawaii joins the growing movement of states seeking to generate new revenue to pay for essential government services by legalizing marijuana for recreational use. What we cannot do, is throw uncertainty into a growing market space and leave thousands of legal users and patients in limbo. Congress needs to step up and protect states’ rights on this issue.”
Denny Heck (D-WA, 10th)
“Perhaps because the Trump Administration was unsuccessful in repealing the Affordable Care Act, they’ve thought up another way to harm cancer patients, chronic pain sufferers, and other law-abiding citizens by taking away common sense guidance for federal law enforcement to work with local communities who have voted to legalize adult use of recreational or medical marijuana. In fact, nearly a quarter of the U.S. population now lives in a place where adult use is legal. Voters across the country have shown they are serious about taking the right steps to regulate marijuana like alcohol.
“This reckless and irresponsible action from the Department of Justice will not go unanswered. To prevent this action from spiraling out of control, Congress must immediately remove marijuana from the list of controlled substances, in order the preserve the legal marijuana markets present in 37 states. It is time for the federal government to catch up with the public, and align federal and state laws in a common sense way to prevent further disruptions to this established legal market that will actually make these communities less safe.”
U.S. Representatives Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Heck, and Don Young (R-AK) introduced bipartisan legislation in April 2017 to allow marijuana-related businesses in states with existing regulatory structures to access the banking system. A similar companion bill in the Senate was introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Cory Gardner (D-CO). The SAFE Banking Act reduces the public safety threat that arises when small businesses are forced to operate on a cash-only basis. Last year, Travis Mason, a Marine veteran and security guard at a marijuana business in Aurora, Colorado was tragically killed during a robbery.
Pramila Jayapal (D-WA, 7th)
“I’m extremely disappointed in Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ attempt to disregard the will of the people and return us to the days of prohibition and the war on drugs.
“At a time of broad public support for marijuana legalization and criminal justice reform, we should be moving forward – not going back to outdated and harmful policies that do little to enhance public safety and disproportionately hurt people of color.
“Washington voters led the way in legalizing marijuana five years ago, taking an important step in reducing mass incarceration, strengthening public health, and bolstering our economy – and I will fight for them. I will be working with my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee in a bipartisan way to address this issue. Republicans who have an actual commitment to state’s rights should speak out now against this decision.”
Ruben Kihuen (D-NV, 4th)
“Secretary Sessions’ decision clashes with the will of hundreds of thousands of Nevadans and millions of Americans who have voted in favor of marijuana legalization. Mr. Sessions and the Department of Justice are reversing a years-long policy of respecting the rights of states in order to take out a personal vendetta on an industry that has sold nearly $130 million worth of product in Nevada and brought in $20 million in tax revenue to the state since July. This decision will not only impact the marijuana industry and the thousands of jobs it is creating, but it will put at risk a stable source of vital tax revenue for our state.”
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