Contact Your Member of Congress to Support the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act (HR 1523)

As we’ve promoted many times before, the only real solution to marijuana prohibition is to reconcile with the Federal Controlled Substances Act. The Controlled Substances Act drives the DEA and US Attorneys to clash with cannabis. We have advocated removing marijuana from all Schedules in the Controlled Substances Act, while other compromises suggest moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II (or Schedule III). Well, another way to achieve the same result is to amend the Act to Respect State Marijuana Laws. The aptly named Respect State Marijuana Laws Act (H.R. 1523) introduced by Rep. Rohrabacher (R-CA 48th District) does just that. Please ask your member of Congress to co-sponsor this House Bill. This is our chance to stop the Feds from interfering with State Law.

MPP has made it very easy to send an email to your member of Congress by supplying your name, email and home address; they take care of the rest. So even if you don’t know who to contact, MPP will make sure your voice is heard by your representative. Click here to urge your member of Congress to co-sponsor the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act.


Some may say that HR 1523 is a cop-out as it leaves marijuana illegal under Federal law. This is true, and I agree it would be better in the long run to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act altogether, but in the meantime, business owners in Colorado, Washington and all other medical marijuana states need peace of mind that they can grow their cannabusiness without fear of prosecution from the Feds.

What is the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act (HR 1523)

This 2 page House Bill proposed by California Republican House Representative Dana Rohrabacher adds the following text to the Controlled Substances Act (remember, marijuana/cannabis is referred to as marihuana in the Controlled Substances Act):

SEC. 710. RULE REGARDING APPLICATION TO MARIHUANA.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the provisions of this subchapter related to marihuana shall not apply to any person acting in compliance with State laws relating to the production, possession, distribution, dispensation, administration, or delivery of marihuana.’’.

Full text of the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act (HR 1523)

MPP Email: Support the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act

There is big news in the halls of Congress! A new bipartisan bill would modify the federal Controlled Substances Act so that anyone acting in compliance with a state marijuana law would be immune from federal prosecution.

That’s right. The federal Controlled Substances Act simply would not apply to marijuana users, dispensary operators, and other individuals who have been courageous enough to help take marijuana production and sales above ground into state-regulated markets.

Click here to urge your member of Congress to co-sponsor the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act.


We would like to thank Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) for his leadership on this bill. It presents a perfect opportunity for members to embrace the notion that states should be able to devise systems for regulating marijuana without their citizens having to worry about breaking federal law.

The goal is to have this bill be truly bipartisan, so it is being introduced with three Republicans (Reps. Rohrabacher, Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI), and Don Young (R-AK)) and three Democrats (Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Jared Polis (D-CO)). In order to build up the list of co-sponsors, we need you to make your voice heard.

Please use our online action center to urge your member of Congress to co-sponsor the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act. Just two minutes of your time will make a big difference.

And please don’t forget to share this message with friends and family so that they can take action too.

Steve Fox
National Political Director
Marijuana Policy Project
Washington, D.C.