A bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general sent a letter to congressional leaders arguing that any effort to federally legalize marijuana should be done in a manner that respects the autonomy of states while providing necessary resources to ensure that cannabis is effectively regulated. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R), Connecticut Attorney General William Tong (D), North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem (R), and Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan (D) sent the letter last week in response to a request for feedback on a draft legalization bill that’s being finalized by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). The top law enforcement officials emphasized the need for a “cooperative federal-state regulatory partnership” that prioritizes public health and safety but does not unduly interfere in established cannabis markets that are being overseen by the states. While the attorneys general aren’t endorsing or opposing the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), they said “we recognize that federal legislation, if enacted, will increase the already-pressing need for cooperative federal-state oversight of products that contain cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds.” “Over the past 25 years, numerous states have made the decision to legalize cannabis for medical or recreational uses. More are likely to do so in the future,” the letter says. “It is clear that the rapidly expanding cannabis market should not regulate itself and that a cooperative federal-state regulatory partnership is necessary to govern the industry in a manner consistent with the need for consumer protection.” They added that the “inherent complexity of cannabis and cannabinoids raises legitimate public health and public safety concerns that, absent appropriate federal and state regulation, could put consumers and the public at risk.”
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 11/25/2021 09:52:00