House rules committee set to hear marijuana amendments today

By Alicia Wallace, The Cannabist Staff

A federal legislative committee could soon determine the fate of several proposals to protect existing and future state marijuana laws, businesses and research.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules on Wednesday continued hearing testimony and considering amendments to the Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2018, a spending bill set to go before Congress later this month.

Headlining the marijuana-related proposals is the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment, which would bar the Justice Department from using funds to interfere with existing state-enacted medical marijuana regulations.

The amendment formerly known as Rohrabacher-Farr has been implemented in previous years; however, its continued adoption during the current administration has been questioned. Attorney General Jeff Sessions wrote to congressional leaders earlier this year opposing the amendment’s inclusion, stating it inhibits the Justice Department’s…