On June 3, 2015, the United States House of Representatives came to the decision to reauthorize an amendment that would not allow federal authorities from interfering with medical pot businesses in areas throughout the U.S. where cannabis is legal.
Also, the House passed various amendments switching federal funds away from the DEA and into the hands of different agencies. The amendments were part of the Fiscal Year 2016 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill.
This past year, Congress approved a set of almost identical amendments to defend medical pot businesses, yet these amendments will be expired at the close of the fiscal year. With the possibility for another year of protection for patients, medical cannabis potentially can start to slowly turn into defacto U.S. policy.
There are currently six amendments in the 2016 appropriations bill that not only warrant interest from the cannabis industry but as well represents victories for the movement in its entirety.
The first amendment is the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, which would stop the use of federal funds to arrest or prosecute people or businesses for medical cannabis as long as they follow the guidelines within state law With heavy backing from bipartisan support, the amendment passed with a majority vote of 242-186.
The second amendment was introduced by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. This amendment would stop the DEA from intervening with states that have a legal marijuana grow ops for research.
However limited hemp growing was legalized back in 2014, many hemp farmers still are worried that the DEA will step in, which makes no distinction between cannabis and hemp. The amendment passes with a favorable 282-146 vote.
The third amendment, introduced by Republican Rep. Scott Perry, would defend states that condone the use of high CBD/low-THC cannabis oil. There is no defense for other medical cannabis patients, but the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment should eliminate that issue.
The following 3 amendments all have to do specifically with DEA funding. One amendment introduced by Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu would take $9 million away from the Cannabis Reduction and Eradication program and shift it to the VAWA Consolidated Youth Oriented Program, the Victims of Child Abuse Act and general deficit reduction
Because the House is not the last stop of the legislative process, work will still need to be conducted in the Senate. The Senate could have its own version of the bill, and there is no telling how the new Republican- led Senate will go about it
MAPH Enterprises, LLC | (305) 414-0128 | 1501 Venera Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33146 | new@marijuanastocks.com
1 comment