Introduction of Sensible Enforcement of Cannabis Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, in January, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) rescinded the Cole Memorandum, a directive which has provided a framework for states to pursue reasonable regulation of cannabis. DOJ's ill-conceived decision adversely affects states, including the State of California, that have in ``good faith'' implemented regulatory frameworks, relying on the memo.

In November 2016, the people of California spoke up and voted in favor of Proposition 64, which legalized recreational cannabis, joining seven states in our nation in making recreational cannabis legal. Currently, those laws are being implemented. The recent action by the Attorney General puts the industry in jeopardy.

The State of California has the sixth largest economy in the world and accounts for almost 15 percent of our nation's Gross Domestic Product. Given the implementation of tax reform and elimination of State and Local Tax deductions in the coming year, coupled with our limited federal budget due to sequestration, California and other states will experience funding shortfalls that need to be addressed. The economic constraints being placed on California will slow down our economy, but marijuana sales taxes will help provide stability and be a mechanism used to fill the funding gaps. By 2020, marijuana sales taxes are estimated to potentially reach $1 billion annually in revenue for California.

To date, eight states have legalized recreational cannabis and twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia--which represent more than half of the American population--have enacted legislation to permit the use of medical marijuana. The repeal of the Cole Memo contravenes the will of the American public. Furthermore, this decision will negatively affect numerous Americans who utilize marijuana for medical purposes.

Therefore, I am introducing the bipartisan Sensible Enforcement of Cannabis Act with Representative Gaetz. This legislation will prohibit the Attorney General from prosecuting individuals for any conduct that concerns medicinal cannabis or recreational use of cannabis in states that have authorized cannabis laws. The bill would also include exceptions in which the Attorney General would be able to prosecute such cases involving the distribution of cannabis to minors, among others.

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