Bills
| 3.23.22

Should the Feds Not Interfere if People & Businesses Comply With State Marijuana Law? (H.R. 975)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 975?

(Updated January 10, 2020)

This bill would change federal marijuana law to protect those who are in compliance with state laws while producing, possessing, distributing, dispensing, administering, or delivering marijuana. Basically, if a person's pot use/production/distribution is allowed under state law for recreational or medical purposes — the federal government won't prosecute them. 

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

The federal government shouldn't allow states to normalize the use of marijuana. It needs to enforce laws designed to protect the public health.

Impact

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

Cost of H.R. 975

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) introduced this bill to allow people to use, sell, or distribute marijuana in compliance with state law without fear of federal prosecution. Rohrabacher told the Washington Examiner that the bill would allow "many people to live better lives" and that "it makes economic sense at a time when every penny must count for government."


This legislation has the support of 24 bipartisan cosponsors evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.

Of Note: Eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized and regulated recreational marijuana for adults — although Congress has prevented D.C. implementing it — while 29 states, D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico permit the medical use of marijuana. 

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." 

An omnibus spending package passed in 2015 included an amendment from this bill's sponsor, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) that prevented federal funds from being used to prosecute people who act in compliance with their state's medical marijuana laws. That was subsequently reauthorized by a continuing resolution passed in December 2016 which funded the government through April 28, 2017.

Media: 

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: Cannabis Culture via Flickr / Creative Commons)