Bills
| 3.23.22

If They're Complying With State Law, Should Pot Users be Free From Federal Prosecution? (H.R. 1940)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 1940?

(Updated March 12, 2018)

This bill would change federal law related to marijuana to protect those who are in compliance with state laws while producing, possessing, distributing, dispensing, administering, or delivering marijuana. 

Basically, if the state you live in says your pot use/production/distribution is okay — then the federal government can't stop you. 

This bipartisan legislation would in effect shield medical and recreational pot users and marijuana businesses from federal prosecution.  

Argument in favor

States should be able to devise systems for regulating marijuana without putting their citizens in a position where they have to worry about breaking federal law.

Argument opposed

Normalizing the use and availability of marijuana in U.S. communities are detrimental to our youth, to public health, and to public safety.

Impact

People who use, distribute, produce, or administer marijuana products; the Controlled Substances Act; and law enforcement the local, state, and federal levels.

Cost of H.R. 1940

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

Of Note: If you're wondering how many people agree with your position on legalizing marijuana, Pew Research has the numbers:

"Support for marijuana legalization is rapidly outpacing opposition. A slim majority (53%) of Americans say the drug should be made legal, compared with 44% who want it to be illegal. Opinions have changed drastically since 1969, when Gallup first asked the question and found that just 12% favored legalizing marijuana use." 

you might ask yourself. You'd be half right. As the Huffington Post explains: 

"While a federal spending bill signed by President Barack Obama in December prohibits the Department of Justice from using funds to interfere in state-legal medical marijuana programs, the DOJ has said that it doesn't believe the congressional measure prohibits them from prosecuting individuals or businesses in violation of federal law."

So yeah, in the eyes of the federal government, marijuana is still illegal. 


Media: 

(Photo Credit: Flickr user Yeshe)