Polis Will Introduce STATES Act in House of Representatives

Press Release

Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., announced today that he will introduce the bipartisan Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act (STATES Act) in the House of Representatives, alongside Rep. David Joyce, R-Ohio, and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.

The Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES Act) leaves it up to each state to determine for itself the best approach to marijuana policy within its borders. Since President Trump's Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Cole Memorandum back in January, states that have voted to enact sensible marijuana policies have been left in legal limbo. The STATES Act provides clarity by amending the Controlled Substances Act so that as long as states and tribes comply with a few basic protections, they are free to regulate marijuana as they see fit.

"I have eagerly advocated for a marijuana fix for years - from authoring my Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act to urging President Trump and his Attorney General to leave states that have legalized marijuana alone," said Polis. "Today, more and more Members of Congress have realized that if we don't act now, the President and his Attorney General will trample on the rights of states to legalize marijuana. In my most recent attempt to protect the industry that is so vital to the Colorado economy, I'm proud to co-sponsor the bipartisan STATES Act. The STATES Act is a sensible proposal that reaffirms that states should have the unencumbered right to legalize and regulate marijuana if they so choose."

The STATES Act, specifically:

* Amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) so that - as long as states and tribes comply with a few basic protections - its provisions no longer apply to any person acting in compliance with State or tribal laws relating to marijuana activities.

* Clearly states that compliant transactions are not trafficking and do not result in proceeds of an unlawful transaction.

* Removes industrial hemp from the list of controlled substances under the CSA.

* The following federal criminal provisions under the CSA continue to apply:

- Prohibits endangering human life while manufacturing marijuana;

- Prohibits employment of persons under age 18 in drug operations.

* Prohibits the distribution of marijuana at transportation safety facilities such as rest areas and truck stops.

* Prohibits the distribution or sale of marijuana to persons under the age of 21 other than for medical purposes.

Polis, along with three other members of Congress, launched the bipartisan Cannabis Caucus in 2017. The Caucus is a forum for members of the U.S. House of Representatives to discuss, learn, and work together to establish a better and more rational approach to federal cannabis policy.

Polis has introduced the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act. It would remove marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug; transition marijuana oversight from the jurisdiction of the Drug Enforcement Agency to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and regulate marijuana like alcohol by inserting it into the section of the U.S. Code that governs "intoxicating liquors." Last April, Polis drafted an article urging President Trump to leave marijuana alone.

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