South Carolina Republicans Introduce New Cannabis Legalization Bill |

South Carolina Republican US Representative Nancy Mace on Monday unveiled a bill to regulate and tax marijuana that opens up a new way to achieve the goal of federal cannabis policy reform. According to a press release, under the law known as the State Reform Act, marijuana would be decriminalized at the federal level and states would be free to set their own regulatory guidelines for cannabis.

At a press conference to unveil the legislation in the Capitol on Monday afternoon, Mace noted that only three states are currently missing some form of legal cannabis.

“My home state of South Carolina allows CBD, Florida allows medical marijuana, California and others, for example, have full recreational use. Every state is different. All of this must be taken into account by the cannabis reform at the federal level. And it’s time federal law codified that reality, ”Mace said in written comments prepared for the event. “That is why I am introducing the States Reform Act, a bill that aims to remove cannabis from Appendix I in accordance with the rights of states to determine what level of cannabis reform each state already has or not.”

Mace, who appeared with a contingent of advocates, veterans and law enforcement officers, noted that public opinion polls show that an overwhelming majority of Americans are in favor of reforming the country’s cannabis laws. She added that her law supports farmers, businesses, law enforcement agencies and medical marijuana patients while advancing the cause of criminal law reform.

Law lets states decide on legalization

According to Mace’s bill, cannabis would be removed from Appendix I of the Controlled Substances Act and states could take the lead in legalizing and regulating marijuana for their jurisdictions. At the federal level, cannabis would be regulated like alcohol, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture being responsible for regulating breeders, while medical uses would be overseen by the Food and Drug Administration.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau will regulate cannabis products under the law. The States Reform Act also imposes a federal three percent excise tax on cannabis products, with the proceeds being used to fund law enforcement initiatives, small businesses, and mental health veterans.

Mace’s bill also ensures a safe haven for government medical marijuana programs and patient access to medical cannabis. The legislation also specifically protects the use of medicinal cannabis for the treatment of arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, sickle cell anemia, HIV / AIDS, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The judicial reform bill’s provisions include the release and deletion of records of such convictions of prisoners convicted of federal nonviolent cannabis offenses. However, cartel members, agents of cartel gangs or persons convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol are not entitled to discharge. Mace’s office estimates that about 2,600 federal prisoners will be released when the law goes into effect.

Alternative to the Democrats’ legalization plan

Mace’s bill serves as an alternative to Democratic plans to legalize cannabis at the federal level, including a proposal tabled in July by New York Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Under its bill, known as the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, marijuana would be taxed at a much higher rate of 25.5 percent, with the proceeds funding broad social justice and economic development programs.

Graham Farrar, the president and co-founder of California’s vertically integrated cannabis company Glass House Brands, called the new legalization proposal “exciting stuff” and added that the legislation “only removes the question of whether or not this is a bipartisan issue”. Farrar said Mace’s bill could also spur support for the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, predicting that the chances of Congress passing cannabis banking laws this year have increased significantly.

“If the Republicans and the Democrats want to intervene in a piss match, who can legalize better, I am for it!” I think the move greatly increases the odds across the board, “he wrote in an electronic message.

Nick Kovacevich, CEO of cannabis supply retailer Greenlane Holdings, noted that “the current democratic leadership is eager to legalize cannabis, but the fear is that they will not find a way through Republican resistance”.

“The fact that a Republican is dropping a legalization bill is very encouraging because it marks a middle ground to achieve this increasingly important goal – legalizing cannabis,” Kovacevich wrote in an email. “Also, this is a smart move by the GOP as it is gaining traction at halftime and cannabis is such a popular topic with voters. If cannabis legalization is successful, it could lead to widespread electoral success in a year. “