HR 1523, Respect State Marijuana Laws Act: Stalled Without Support

The name of HR 1523 basically explains it all: Respect State Marijuana Laws Act. In summary, it would amend the Controlled Substance Act to not include anyone operating in compliance with state laws for ‘marihuana’ posession, production, distribution, dispensation, or delivery. You can check out this Weedist post to get the entire scoop on the bill.

When introduced on April 12, 2013 it looked promising, gaining bi-partisan support with 15 co-sponsors in two weeks.  Since April only 5 more representatives joined their ranks, and only 2 in the past three months. The measure has effectively stalled out.

On April 12 it was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee as well as the House Judiciary Committee, both of whom referred it to subcommittees where it has lain, desolate, without any official action taken.

I don’t get it. Two states legalized recreational marijuana last year, two more states passed medical marijuana laws this year, and only 20 House of Representatives Congress people are willing to publicly demand the federal government respect state marijuana laws? Enough is enough.

Federal change MUST be a priority. I’m not idealistic enough to believe we will see it happen next year, but we need to start building the momentum or else our grandchildren might still be living in a country wasting trillions fighting this ineffective, destructive war on drugs.

Please, check out which representatives currently support HR 1523 here (chose Bill Number from the dropdown and enter “H.R.1523” in the search field), and start hounding yours to join in, especially if they are on the Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigation or Health Subcommittees holding up the process. Don’t make this a one-time commitment, contact them once a week until they relent and recruit others to do the same. Imagine how fast progress could be made on the national level if every cannabis legalization supporter in America committed just 10 minutes a week to doing just that.