Congressional researchers highlight growing federal-state marijuana ‘policy gap’ in new 100-page report
Congress and federal law enforcement could choose continued inaction, allowing states to set up regulated cannabis markets without enacting reform
Monday, April 25, 2022
The gap between federal and state marijuana policies continues to widen and shows no signs of stopping, congressional researchers said in a new report that also lays out options for how lawmakers could address the growing schism. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) published the 101-page analysis just days after the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill to federally legalize cannabis. It covers a wide range of policy implications caused by the ongoing prohibition of marijuana under federal law as more states move to legalize for medical and adult use. From banking challenges to trafficking trends, CRS thoroughly covered how the status quo “creates unique consequences for individuals who act in compliance with state law but violate federal law.”
