Discover the bill that would protect state cannabis programs against federal interference

In a historic vote, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment to the bill protecting state cannabis programs against federal interference.

U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that would protect state cannabis programs against federal interference. The amendment was approved by a wide 267-165 margin.

Declaring the federal government should defer to state cannabis laws

CTF CEO Neal Levine stated, the historic nature of this vote cannot be overstated. For the first time, a chamber of Congress has declared that the federal government should defer to state cannabis laws.

The vote, taken place on 20 June 2019, marks the first time a chamber of Congress has declared that the federal government should defer to state cannabis laws. A similar appropriations rider specific to state medical cannabis programs, known as the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment and then the Leahy amendment, has been in effect since first passing in 2014.

The action is now turning to the Senate, where the public needs senators to either include a similar amendment in their version of the bill or allow the House amendment to remain in the final bill after negotiations in conference committee.

The historic nature of this vote cannot be overstated

Neal Levine, CEO of the Cannabis Trade Federation, a national coalition of cannabis-related businesses that lobbied in favour of the amendment comments:

“The historic nature of this vote cannot be overstated. For the first time, a chamber of Congress has declared that the federal government should defer to state cannabis laws.

“The bipartisan nature of this vote is a strong signal that there would be majority support in the House for the STATES Act, which could be considered a more permanent version of this amendment. We hope the full House will be given the opportunity to vote on the STATES Act in coming months so that we can move closer to the end of federal cannabis prohibition.”