Representatives in the House of Representatives want to include federal protections against cannabis in the upcoming spending bill

Through Maureen Meihan

A group of 48 House Representatives sent a letter urging the chairman and senior members of a House Appropriations Subcommittee to address cannabis issues through must-pass legislation as part of a spending bill expected to be introduced next week. reported Marijuana Moment.

The letter, shared with Marijuana Moment, includes three language sections that lawmakers hope to see in the baseline spending bill for the Trade, Judiciary, Scientific and Related Agencies (CJS).

Photo by Olena Ruban/Getty Images

RELATED: Multi-state cannabis companies are suing the federal government over the marijuana ban

The proposals would “prevent the Justice Department from prosecuting those who comply with their state or tribal marijuana laws,” wrote the group, which includes Reps Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Barbara Lee (D-CA).

The four lawmakers had signed an earlier letter in 2021 advising that state-level legalization legislation was decided by voters and therefore “the federal government should not interfere with these programs and the will of the voters of these states.”

Legislators now want more comprehensive protection

A tab preventing the DOJ from using federal funds to interfere with the legalization of medical cannabis has been renewed annually since 2014, but lawmakers are now pushing for broader protections in this latest appropriation measure.

“None of the funds provided under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used to enforce federal prohibitions affecting the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes as permitted under the laws of the state, district of, Columbia or the U.S. territory where the offense was committed, or to prevent states, the District of Columbia or the U.S. territories from implementing their own laws governing the use, distribution, possession or cultivation allow marijuana for medical use.”

RELATED: Federal arrests for marijuana have declined as more states legalize it

MP Blumenauer has said on numerous occasions that legalizing cannabis is a priority for him. Blumenauer easily won May’s Oregon Democratic primary with nearly 95% of the vote, which he has done since 1996.

“States from coast to coast — across the political spectrum, red and blue — have taken meaningful action to end prohibition policies and allow for the development of programs for both adult and medical marijuana use,” Blumenauer said. “The federal government must not interfere in these programs and the will of the voters.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.