Polis Joins Ted Cruz in Calling on Republicans to Stay Out of Local Decisions on Marijuana Eagerly awaits Cruz introduction of Senate companion legislation to regulate marijuana like alcohol

Press Release

Today, Representative Jared Polis (D-CO) applauded and echoed the comments that Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) made yesterday at the Conservative Political Action Committee conference, where he said states are "laboratories of democracy," and if state and local citizens "want to go down that road [of legalizing marijuana], that's their prerogative."

Cruz's defense of local control over marijuana policies comes as members of his party in the House have made outlandish threats of penalties and dire consequences directed at the mayor of Washington, DC as she implements marijuana legalization approved by 70% of her constituents. These threats included the outrageous remarks from Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) saying there would be "very severe consequences" and threatening that DC Mayor Muriel Bowser "can go to prison for this."

"I'm proud to join with Ted Cruz in calling on our colleagues in Congress to respect the right of local citizens to decide how to regulate marijuana use, without federal government interference," said Rep. Polis. "My bipartisan bill, the "Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act,' would do just want Sen. Cruz now supports, leaving it to the states to regulate marijuana how they see fit, and I look forward to seeing Mr. Cruz introduce companion legislation in the Senate, which I expect he will do imminently."

Polis also praised Cruz's support of the local dispensaries in Colorado, where Cruz told attendees at CPAC the brownies they enjoyed had come from. He did warn Senator Cruz that under current federal law, transporting them across state lines was illegal, although TSA agents, who may go without pay if the Republican Department of Homeland Security shutdown occurs, may have been more worried about whether they were going to be able to make rent.

Source