A proposal in the House of Representatives to protect state marijuana laws has garnered its 10 legislative sponsor.
Congressmember Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) has officially signed on as a cosponsor to the STATES (Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States) Act 2.0, bringing the total to 10. The measure was filed in December by Representative Dave Joyce (R) with four cosponsors.
The STATES 2.0 Act would amend the Controlled Substances so that those acting in compliance with state marijuana laws would no longer be committing a federal crime, and it would allow commerce between legal marijuana states and tribes
The measure would also amend an IRS law (section 280E) that prohibits businesses from taking tax deductions if they run a federally illegal business, even if the business is properly following their state’s laws. This would allow state-legal marijuana businesses to take standard tax deductions.
“The current federal approach to cannabis policy infringes on the rights of states to implement their own laws, stifling critical medical research, hurting legitimate businesses, and diverting vital law enforcement resources needed elsewhere,” says Congressman Joyce. “The STATES Act does what every federal bill should do – help all 50 states succeed. This bill respects the will of the states that have legalized cannabis in some form and allows them to implement their own policies without fear of repercussion from the federal government.”
The full list of sponsors for the STATES Act 2.0 includes:
- David Joyce (R-OH)
- Kelly Armstrong (R-ND)
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR)
- Luis Correa (D-CA)
- Troy Carter (D-LA)
- Brian Mast (R-FL)
- Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
- Gregory Steube (R-FL)
- Max Miller (R-OH)
- Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)
