WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Thursday reintroduced the Strengthening the 10th Amendment Through Entrusting States Act (STATES Act) to ensure that each state has the right to determine for itself the best approach to marijuana within its borders.

U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and David Joyce (D-OH) have reintroduced the bill in the House.

The bipartisan and bicameral legislation also extends these protections to Washington D.C., U.S. territories, and federally recognized tribal nations.

Also cosponsoring the bill are Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NM), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Forty-seven states have laws permitting marijuana or marijuana-based products, and Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and a number of tribal nations have similar laws. Last year alone, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Utah, and Vermont all expanded legal marijuana.

As states began developing their own approaches to marijuana enforcement, the Department of Justice issued guidance to support these state actions and focus law enforcement resources where they are most-needed.

However, this guidance was withdrawn in 2018, causing legal uncertainty, threatening public health and safety issues, and undermining the states’ regulatory regimes.

“In 2012, Coloradans legalized marijuana at the ballot box and the state created an apparatus to regulate the legal marijuana industry.

But because of the one-size-fits-all federal prohibition, state decisions like this put Colorado and other states at odds with the federal government.

This is an issue across America, with states like Utah, Oklahoma, Michigan, Vermont, and Missouri approving new or expanded programs just last year,” said Senator Gardner.

“The federal government is closing its eyes and plugging its ears while 47 states have acted. The bipartisan STATES Act fixes this problem once and for all by taking a states’ rights approach to the legal marijuana question. The bipartisan, commonsense bill ensures the federal government will respect the will of the voters – whether that is legalization or prohibition – and not interfere in any states’ legal marijuana industry.”

“Our federal marijuana laws are outdated and pose a threat to our public health and safety. Marijuana should be legalized and we must reverse the harm of these failed policies by wiping clean the records of those unjustly jailed for minor marijuana crimes,” said Senator Warren. “Congress should take immediate action on these important issues by passing the bipartisan STATES Act and protecting states, territories, and tribal nations as they implement their own marijuana laws without federal interference.”

“Forty-seven states have legalized some form of cannabis and the majority of Americans support its legalization,” said Representative Blumenauer. “Our outdated laws have ruined lives, devastated communities, and wasted resources for critical medical treatment and research.

Congress needs a reality check.

The STATES Act is an important part of the blueprint for more rational federal cannabis policy.”

“The current federal policy interferes with the ability of states to implement their own cannabis laws, and the resulting system has stifled important medical research, hurt legitimate businesses and diverted critical law enforcement resources needed elsewhere,” said Representative Joyce.

“It’s past time for Congress to clarify cannabis policy on the federal level and ensure states are free to make their own decisions in the best interest of their constituents. The STATES Act does just that by respecting the will of the states that have legalized cannabis in some form and allowing them to implement their own policies without fear of repercussion from the federal government.”

The STATES Act

Amends the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 801) (CSA) so that — as long as states and tribal nations comply with a few basic protections — its provisions no longer apply to any person acting in compliance with State or tribal laws relating to the manufacture, production, possession, distribution, dispensation, administration, or delivery of marijuana.

Continues to apply the following federal criminal provisions under the CSA by prohibiting:

Endangerment of human life while manufacturing a controlled substance; and

Employment of persons under age 18 in marijuana operations.

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

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

Instructs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the effects of marijuana legalization on traffic safety, including whether states are able to accurately evaluate marijuana impairment, testing standards used by these states, and a detailed assessment of traffic incidents.

Addresses financial issues caused by federal prohibition by clearly stating that compliant transactions are not trafficking and do not result in proceeds of an unlawful transaction.

Contains common-sense guardrails to ensure that states, territories, and tribal nations regulating marijuana do so in a manner that is safe and respectful of the impacts on their neighbors.

The STATES Act is supported by the American Bankers Association, ACLU, American Council of Independent Laboratories, Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Safe Access, Americans for Tax Reform, American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, Brennan Center for Justice, California Cannabis Industry Association, California State Association of Counties, Campaign for Liberty, Cannabis Trade Federation, Center for Freedom and Prosperity, Citizens Opposing Prohibition, Colorado Bankers Association, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Cooperative Credit Union Association, Credit Union National Association, Drug Policy Alliance, Electronic Transactions Association, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Florida Credit Union Association, the Hoh Indian Tribe, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Massachusetts Bankers Association, Marijuana Policy Project, Minorities for Medical Marijuana, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, National Cannabis Industry Association, National Cannabis Roundtable, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, New Federalism Fund, New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association, New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, the Nisqually Indian Tribe, Oklahoma Cannabis Industry Association, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township,the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, R Street, Safe and Responsible Banking Alliance, the Squaxin Island Tribe, the Suquamish Tribe, and the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe.

Some organizations point to specific implications of the bill, like enhanced tribal sovereignty and banking law clarity:

“While ABA does not take a position on the legalization of cannabis and the STATES Act is not a banking specific bill, removing the federal prohibition on cannabis in states that have legalized its use would allow banks to accept deposits and provide basic financial services to state licensed cannabis businesses and their service providers,” wrote Rob Nichols, President and CEO of the American Banking Association.

“That, in turn, would help those communities reduce cash-motivated crimes, increase the efficiency of tax collections, and improve the financial transparency of the cannabis industry.”