Congressmember Brian Mast, a Republican from Florida, has officially signed on as a cosponsor of the STATES 2.0 Act, making him the latest lawmaker to support the federal proposal that would end marijuana prohibition in states where it has been legalized.
The STATES 2.0 Act was reintroduced earlier this year by Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH), Max Miller (R-OH), and Dina Titus (D-NV), with Gregory Steube (R-FL) joining as a cosponsor a couple months later. The legislation would amend the Controlled Substances Act to ensure that individuals and businesses operating in compliance with state or tribal marijuana laws are not subject to federal interference.
In addition to protecting state-legal marijuana activity, the measure would authorize interstate marijuana commerce between consenting legal states, revise federal tax law to allow marijuana businesses to be treated like other lawful enterprises, and set the stage for a federal regulatory and taxation system.
The bill also directs the U.S. Attorney General to issue a rule within 180 days of enactment to formally exclude qualifying state and tribal marijuana programs from federal prohibition.
For the full text of the STATES 2.0 Act, click here.
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