Congressional hearing scheduled to discuss ending cannabis prohibition

Recently Marijuana Moment was given, by sources who wish to remain anonymous, the names of several witnesses expected to receive invitations to testify before a congressional panel on July 10.  MM stated that “given the backgrounds of these individuals, it seems apparent that committee members will be discussing not whether the U.S. should end federal cannabis prohibition, but will focus primarily on how to do it.

“For the first time in recent memory, there will be a candid conversation in the Judiciary Committee about the failures of marijuana prohibition in the United States and how people have been impacted,” Justin Strekal, political director of NORML, told Marijuana Moment. “We look forward to working with the subcommittee to best inform the conversation and the public at large.”

Witnesses are anticipated to include:

• Malik Burnett, a physician at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who previously served as the Washington, D.C. policy manager at the Drug Policy Alliance’s Office of National Affairs
• Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, who announced in January that her office would no longer prosecute cannabis possession cases and would work to clear the records of certain individuals with prior marijuana convictions
• David Nathan, a physician and board president of the pro-legalization group Doctors for Cannabis Regulation (DFCR). David recently told MM that he looks “forward to discussing the evidence-based health effects of cannabis, the failure of prohibition, the inadequacy of decriminalization, and the public health and social justice benefits of effective regulation.”
• Neal Levine, CEO of Cannabis Trade Federation, will be the minority witness

MM states that while few details about the meeting are currently available, the House Judiciary Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee is expected to discuss various legislative proposals to allow states to set their own cannabis policies without fear of federal intervention. The federal intervention issue affects states like Texas where political representation consistently uses federal law as excuse in the debate to not expand any medical cannabis programs or gun ownership rights.  Representative Klick stated that gun ownership could not be added to HB 3703 as it would violate federal statutes on the situation, despite having a medical cannabis program is already in violation of federal law by the drug’s current scheduling.  The Judiciary Committee, under which this special subcommittee falls, has influence in advancing the broad but necessary changes to federal drug laws, and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) pointed to this specific panel as the panel to bring about the end of cannabis prohibition in a blueprint to legalization in the 116th Congress.

This follows up from steps in March, when a bipartisan bill that would provide protections for banks that service cannabis businesses cleared the House Financial Services Committee following a hearing on the issue, and a full floor vote on that legislation could be coming soon. As well,  it follows Blumenauer’s House-passed amendment protecting all state level cannabis programs. The cannabis reform movement is steadily making steps, and amazing that now it is moving at a pace that is usually not seen with most measures. It is highly recommended that Texans consistently remind their congressional representatives and senator up for re-election that this is possibly a matter that could change who they vote for in 2020. 84 percent of Texas has said it wants medical cannabis legalized, and we need to show these candidates that 84 percent of Texas will use this as a major deciding factor when at the polls.

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