Rosen Statement on Trump Administration's Efforts to Undermine State Marijuana Legalization Efforts

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (NV-03) released the following statement in response to a recent news report revealing that the Trump Administration secretly organized a committee of federal agencies to combat public support for marijuana and undermine state legalization efforts.

"It should come as no surprise that Attorney General Sessions is leading the charge on spreading misinformation about marijuana legalization in states like Nevada," said Rosen. "The Trump Administration should not be working behind the scenes to mislead the public and undermine our successful efforts to legalize and regulate marijuana at the state level. After rescinding the Cole Memo last year, it's clear why this Administration has not stepped up for real solutions this year. Congress must take action to provide certainty to Nevada businesses and consumers, and that's why I'm supporting a number of bipartisan plans to protect states' rights and the will of Nevada voters on marijuana."

BACKGROUND: Earlier this month, Rosen became a co-sponsor of the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, bipartisan legislation that would direct the Department of Justice to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule 1 drug and move oversight and jurisdiction from the Drug Enforcement Agency to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In June, Rosen announced her co-sponsorship of the STATES Act, bipartisan legislation that would empower states to determine the status of recreational marijuana within their borders and without federal intervention.

In January, Rosen co-sponsored H.R. 975, the bipartisan Respect State Marijuana Laws Act, which would have the effect of ending federal marijuana prosecution for cannabis businesses operating legally in Nevada. Rosen also joined a bipartisan letter urging the House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee to include language in their Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bill that would bar the Justice Department from prosecuting people who comply with their state's medical marijuana laws. In both 2017 and 2018, Rosen has co-sponsored a bipartisan amendment to prohibit federal funds from being used to penalize financial institutions that serve legal marijuana businesses.

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