Colorado Reps Introduce Federal Bill to Respect Pot Laws

Two Coloradans in the House of Representatives, Diana DeGette and Mike Coffman, introduced a bill today, May 18, that would protect states with legal marijuana from the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress.

The Respect States' and Citizens' Rights Act of 2017 would prohibit Congress from suing or ordering raids on recreational and medical marijuana retailers and producers. A would-be amendment to the Controlled Substances Act, the main mechanism of federal marijuana prohibition, this bill is an ambitious attempt to shield Coloradans from federal charges.

"This bill makes clear that we're not going back to the days of raids on legal dispensaries, of folks living in fear that they're not going to get the medical marijuana they need, or that they might get jailed because of it," said DeGette in a statement.

The age of Trump could mean a sea change for pot laws. In February, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that Trump would like to see "greater enforcement" of federal marijuana laws.

Read more: http://www.westword.com/marijuana/diana-degette-and-mike-coffman-introduce-bill-to-protect-marijuana-laws-from-congress-9075502