Marijuana Moment reports
A key congressional committee is set this week to take up a spending bill that includes a report directing federal agencies to assess the “adequacy” of state-level marijuana regulatory models.
The House Appropriations Committee will mark up the legislation, which covers Financial Service and General Government (FSGG), on Wednesday.
The underlying bill includes longstanding provisions blocking Washington, D.C. from using its tax dollars to legalize cannabis sales. But an attached report acknowledges the need to study legalization at the state level.
“The Committee notes that over 20 States and territories now permit the use of adult use cannabis, while over 35 States and territories permit the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes,” the report says.
To that end, the legislation directs the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and other agencies with “relevant regulatory expertise” to “coordinate an assessment of the adequacy of State marijuana regulatory frameworks, including commonalities and novel approaches to enforcement and oversight.”
The agencies are to formulate an assessment that includes “recommendations to improve data sharing and coordination between State and Federal authorities” and then brief the committee on the findings within one year of enactment.
“Cannabis Regulatory Framework.—The Committee notes that over 20 States and territories now permit the use of adult use cannabis, while over 35 States and territories permit the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. The Committee directs TTB in coordination with the Department, and other agencies, which may have relevant regulatory expertise, to coordinate an assessment of the adequacy of State marijuana regulatory frameworks, including commonalities and novel approaches to enforcement and oversight. The assessment shall include recommendations to improve data sharing and coordination between State and Federal authorities. The Department shall provide a briefing to the Committee on the findings of the assessment within one year of enactment of this Act.”
The language mirrors what was included in reports attached to appropriations bills covering FSGG and Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) last year.
Read the full report
Sean Hocking
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