The Stop Pot Act, introduced by Representative Chuck Edwards (R-NC) last September, is the most prominent piece of anti-marijuana legislation currently in the U.S. Congress, despite having only five sponsors from three states.
The Stop Pot Act seeks to penalize states and tribes that have legalized recreational marijuana by withholding federal highway funds. Despite having more support than any other marijuana-related bill in US Congress, the measure has only managed to attract five co-sponsors, all from Republican representatives—David Rouzer (R-NC), Gregory Murphy (R-NC), Pete Sessions (R-TX), and John W. Rose (R-TN).
The lack of support for the Stop Pot Act speaks volumes about the waning opposition to marijuana reform in U.S. politics. While a decade ago such legislation might have garnered broader backing, the political landscape has shifted dramatically. This bill’s stagnation in the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, where it has been stuck since its introduction, further underscores this point. Despite a push from Edwards to gain more co-sponsors earlier in the summer, the measure has seen no new endorsements since October, and it faces expiration if not passed by the end of the year.
In stark contrast, pro-marijuana reform measures have garnered significant support. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act and the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), both seeking to deschedule marijuana federally, have a combined total of over 100 co-sponsors. Additionally, legislation aimed at allowing marijuana businesses access to banking services has attracted more than 160 co-sponsors.
This disparity underscores the broad bipartisan backing for marijuana reform, with 69% of U.S. adults in favor. The failure of the Stop Pot Act, despite the possibility of three more states legalizing marijuana this November—bringing the total to 27 legal states—and the federal government being on the verge of rescheduling marijuana (not to mention that both of the major party candidates for president now support legalizing marijuana), further signals that the momentum is on the side of reform.
