A US congressmember behind federal legislation aiming to penalize states and tribes that legalize marijuana continues to seek support for the measure.
The Stop Pot Act, introduced in September by Representative Chuck Edwards (R-NC), is cosponsored by Representatives David Rouzer (R-NC), Gregory Murphy (R-NC), Pete Sessions (R-TX), and John W. Rose (R-TN). The measure would withhold federal funding from states and tribes that have legalized recreational marijuana.
Specifically, if the Stop Pot Act is passed into law, the federal government would withhold 10% of federal highway funds from states that violate the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Since the CSA classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, any state that legalizes it would be in violation of federal law and thus face funding cuts.
The measure has been assigned to the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, where it has remained since September.
Recently Rep. Chuck Edwards sent a memo urging his colleagues to sponsor the Stop Pot Act, in an attempt to increase its support and garner the first new cosponsor since October.
The measure has until the end of the year to be passed by House and Senate, or it will expire.
The push to pass the Stop Pot Act comes as the DEA is moving to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III, and Senate Democrats are promoting legislation that would deschedule marijuana.
