“We are concerned about the Department of Justice enforcing federal marijuana law in a way that blocks implementation of marijuana reform laws in those states that have passed such reforms,” legislators wrote to the House Appropriations Committee on Friday. “The issue at hand is whether the federal government’s marijuana policy violates the principles of federalism and the Tenth Amendment. Consistent with those principles, we believe that states ought to retain jurisdiction over most criminal justice matters within their borders. This is how the Founders intended our system to function. “
However, while lawmakers are already shifting their sights to Fiscal Year 2019, which begins on October 1st, 2018, the federal government’s current budgetary patch is only five days away from expiring, leaving 420-friendly legislators with a slightly more pressing issue before next year’s finances come into focus. Now, with the working budget set to expire this Friday, March 23rd, Congress will try to pass yet another funding plan, this time attempting to solve the budget for good. As legislators prepare to avoid another shutdown, it is not yet clear if that will include federal protections for state-legal cannabis.
Since 2014, every congressional budget has included a rider to prevent federal authorities from enforcing cannabis prohibition laws against medical marijuana providers working in accordance with state law. MERRY JANE will follow up on this story as the budget expiration date drawers closer.