Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) has again filed a bill to promote affordable housing in the U.S. that includes a provision preventing landlords from evicting people over manufacturing marijuana extracts if they have a license to do so. The language is identical to a section included in a version of the legislation the senator introduced last Congress that did not advance. Under the measure, filed late last month, there’s a list of “just causes for eviction” such as failure to pay rent or causing significant damage to property. The “manufacture of a cannabinoid extract” is another cause for eviction, “unless the tenant holds a license to manufacture the cannabinoid extract under Federal, State, or Tribal law.”It should be noted, however, that the bill lacks any specific protections for other state-legal cannabis activities, including simple possession. Just above the manufacturing provision is language stating that “the unlawful manufacture, delivery, or possession of a controlled substance” is grounds for eviction, though it contains no caveat exempting state-legal activity as cause for eviction. Despite the growing number of states moving to allow cannabis for medical or recreational use, it remains “unlawful” under the federal Controlled Substances Act.
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 07/15/2021 18:27:00