Congressmember Gregory Steube, a Republican from Florida, has signed on as the fourth sponsor of the STATES 2.0 Act, a federal proposal to end marijuana prohibition in states that have legalized it.
The legislation, officially reintroduced last month by Congressmembers Dave Joyce (R-OH), Max Miller (R-OH), and Dina Titus (D-NV), would amend the Controlled Substances Act to exempt individuals and businesses from federal enforcement if they are operating in accordance with state or tribal marijuana laws. The bill mirrors a version introduced during the previous session of Congress.
Along with protecting state-legal marijuana operations, the STATES 2.0 Act would legalize interstate cannabis commerce between legal states, overhaul IRS policy to treat marijuana businesses like other lawful companies, and establish a framework for future federal regulation and taxation of marijuana.
The measure also mandates that the U.S. Attorney General issue a rule within 180 days of enactment to officially exempt compliant state and tribal marijuana programs from federal prohibition.
For the full text of the STATES 2.0 Act, click here.
