Congress won’t have enacted the key marijuana reforms this yr that advocates had hoped they’d, however in a brand new report bipartisan lawmakers are touting a number of modest wins they had been capable of obtain—saying they’re “optimistic” the difficulty will proceed to advance even additional in 2023.
In an end-of-year memorandum, the Congressional Hashish Caucus listed their accomplishments, which incorporates President Joe Biden signing the first-ever piece of standalone marijuana reform laws to advertise analysis into the plant.
Co-chairs Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Brian Mast (R-FL) additionally acknowledged the passing of founding caucus member Rep. Don Younger (R-AK) earlier this yr.
They stated he was fiercely devoted to “guaranteeing Alaskans and all Individuals had the chance for a greater life not only for at present, but additionally for tomorrow and the longer term.”
By way of legislative accomplishments this yr, the caucus had much more to notice on the Home aspect: a marijuana legalization invoice handed the chamber, as did hashish banking reform laws.
Sadly for advocates, the bipartisan momentum within the Home typically didn’t translate into passage within the Senate, aside from the hashish analysis invoice that Biden signed. And there was delicate recognition within the memo that the duty could proceed to show difficult within the subsequent Congress, which is able to see Republicans take management of the Home.
“The Congressional Hashish Caucus has introduced collectively a broad coalition of members from numerous communities across the nation who all agree: it’s time for Congress to lastly reform federal hashish coverage,” they wrote. “There will probably be some massive modifications within the subsequent Congress, however one factor that won’t change is {that a} majority in each the Home and the Senate favor reform. We’re optimistic for our capability as a caucus to assist navigate these modifications and make additional progress.”
Blumenauer, who has been one of the vital vocal and constant champions of marijuana reform on Capitol Hill, stated in a press launch that he’s “proud that we made historic progress in the direction of ending the failed federal prohibition on hashish.”
In fact, that satisfaction accompanies disappointment this yr: regardless of the Home progress, lawmakers had been unable to go a much-anticipated bundle of incremental hashish reforms—the so-called SAFE Plus laws to repair marijuana banking points and facilitate expungements.
Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-NY) labored to construct bipartisan, bicameral consensus, however the laws was in the end excluded from large-scale protection and spending payments this month, largely as a consequence of opposition from key GOP members like Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
The caucus is highlighting smaller victories and recommitting to advancing the difficulty additional subsequent yr.
“Whereas work stays, there have been important developments over the course of the yr,” the memo says.
Exterior of Congress, the caucus additionally identified that Biden issued a mass marijuana pardon in October and directed an administrative assessment into the federal scheduling of hashish.
“As we transition to the 118th Congress, we should heed the calls of the American public and take daring motion to finish the failed battle on medication as soon as and for all,” the lawmakers stated.
The memo ends with a listing of states which have legalized marijuana for medical and adult-use—the overwhelming majority of states whereas hashish stays strictly prohibited below federal legislation.
“Whereas the work continues on many hashish coverage priorities, together with the SAFE Banking Act, we’re resolved to maintain up the combat within the new Congress,” Blumenauer stated. “With 37 states with medical hashish applications and 21 states with authorized adult-use marijuana in some capability, almost half of the U.S. inhabitants now stay in jurisdictions with some type of legalized adult-use marijuana. Congress should meet up with nearly all of Individuals who help ending the failed and discriminatory federal prohibition.”
Learn the Congressional Hashish Caucus memo on 2022 reform accomplishments under:
Picture courtesy of Mike Latimer.