Bills
| 3.23.22

Reforming Federal Laws to Protect Marijuana Businesses & Consumers (H.R. 1824)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 1824?

(Updated September 8, 2019)

This bill would aim to reduce the gap between federal and state marijuana laws by removing federal criminal penalties and civil asset forfeiture for individuals and businesses complying with state law. It would also aim to reduce barriers for state-legal marijuana businesses, improve protections for marijuana consumers in states and tribal areas where it’s legal; and ensure veterans can access state-legal medical marijuana.

Marijuana Consumer Protections

  • A process would be established to expunge criminal records related to marijuana convictions;

  • Students convicted of a misdemeanor offense for marijuana possession would be eligible for federal student loans;

  • Real property (ie land or buildings) would be exempt from civil asset forfeiture for marijuana activities in compliance with state or tribal;

  • Non-citizens wouldn’t be deported or classified as inadmissible to the U.S. for marijuana activities in compliance with state or tribal law;

  • The prohibition on drug-related criminal activity in federally assisted housing wouldn’t include marijuana activities in compliance with state or tribal law;

Marijuana Business Reforms

  • Businesses that sell marijuana in compliance with state or tribal law would be allowed to claim federal tax credits and deductions;

  • Restrictions on print and broadcast advertising for state authorized marijuana-related activities would be eliminated;

  • Protections would be created for depository institutions (ie banks) that provide financial services to marijuana-related businesses;

  • Marijuana-related businesses would be entitled to federal bankruptcy protections.

Other Marijuana Reforms

  • A new, separate registration process would be established for facilitating medical marijuana research;

  • Healthcare providers employed by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs would be authorized to recommend that patients participate in state marijuana programs;

  • Medical providers involved in an Indian health program would be authorized to make medical recommendations regarding marijuana.

Argument in favor

Federal laws should be changed to allow individuals and businesses to produce and use marijuana in compliance with state law without fear of the feds prosecuting them, this bill would enact reforms to protect businesses and consumers.

Argument opposed

The federal government shouldn’t do anything to make it easier for individuals and businesses to produce or use marijuana in compliance with state law. If anything it should step up its prosecutions of such activities.

Impact

Marijuana businesses and consumers; state governments; and the federal government.

Cost of H.R. 1824

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced this bill to shrink the gap between federal and state marijuana policies:

“As more states follow Oregon’s leadership in legalizing and regulating marijuana, too many people are trapped between federal and state laws. It’s not right, and it’s not fair. We need change now — and this bill is the best way to do it.”

This legislation has the support of eight cosponsors, all of whom are Democrats.


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: FatCamera / iStock)