United States: bill to prevent a federal crackdown on cannabis

California Congresswoman Barbara Lee intends to protect U.S. states and cannabis consumers from Jeff Sessions' mood swings by introducing a new bill called, humorously enough, Restraining Excessive Federal Enforcement & Regulations of Cannabis Act of 2018, the «REFER Act of 2018», a new reefer being a splif.

The text, HR 4779 of its technical name, would prevent the Department of Justice from using federal funds to «detain, prosecute, convict or initiate proceedings against an individual, business or property involved in the cultivation, distribution, possession, sale or use of cannabis» as long as these activities are in compliance with state or local laws.

The bill, drafted with NORML's help, is supported by Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who spearheaded cannabis legalization in his state, Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus and Colorado Congressman Jared Polis, among others.

The REFER Act would have 3 primary functions:

• the Department of Justice could not use taxpayer money to prevent a state or unit of local government from implementing laws that would authorize the consumption, distribution, possession or cultivation of cannabis
• Not one penny of taxpayers' money should be used to detain, prosecute, convict or initiate proceedings against any individual or company involved in cannabusiness operations.
• financial institutions could no longer be sued for receiving money from the cannabis industry

The various legalizations of cannabis in the United States today hang by a thread, and are at the mercy of a change in the federal government's course. However, the states are strong enough to stand up to the federal government, as demonstrated by the REFER Act, which will have to pass through Congress before being implemented.

Next rendezvous this weekend during the extension of the federal budget which contains the amendment Rohrabacher-Farr and protects medical cannabis programs and consumers.