Congressional Cannabis Caucus
{{Short description|Caucus in the United States Congress}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox political party
|logo = Seal of the United States Congress.svg
|colorcode = #A9A9A9
|country = the United States
|founded = 2017
|ideology = States' rights
Cannabis reform
|position =
| seats1_title = Seats in the House Democratic Caucus
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|2|222|hex=Blue}}
| seats2_title = Seats in the House Republican Caucus
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|2|210|hex=Red}}
|seats3_title = Seats in the House
|seats3 = {{Composition bar|4|435|hex=#A9A9A9}}
}}
The Congressional Cannabis Caucus is a registered caucus in the United States Congress, formed in 2017 during the 115th session. The bipartisan caucus was founded by Republicans Dana Rohrabacher and Don Young and Democrats Earl Blumenauer and Jared Polis. The Congressional Cannabis Caucus seeks to harmonize federal laws that conflict with various state laws that permit medical and recreational cannabis.
Background
Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from California, coauthored the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment, which was passed by the 113th United States Congress in 2014. The amendment prevented the United States Department of Justice from using its funding to challenge states that have approved medical cannabis laws.{{cite web|url=http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2014/12/12/congress-ends-war-on-medical-marijuana/|title=Victory: Congress ends war on medical marijuana|date=December 12, 2014|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=February 19, 2017}} Meanwhile, Earl Blumenauer, a member of House of Representatives from Oregon in the Democratic Party, supported Oregon Ballot Measure 91 in 2014, legalizing recreational cannabis in Oregon.{{cite web|url=http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2016/01/28/rep-earl-blumenauer-we-will-win-end-cannabis-prohibition-in-congress/|title=Rep. Earl Blumenauer: we will end cannabis prohibition in Congress|date=January 28, 2016|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=February 19, 2017}} Rohrabacher endorsed the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which legalized recreational cannabis in California in 2016,{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/use-717434-marijuana-signatures.html|title=Initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in California is on track|first=Brooke|last=Edwards Staggs|work=Orange County Register|date=May 27, 2016|access-date=February 19, 2017}} and acknowledged using medical cannabis to treat his arthritis.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/05/25/a-gop-congressman-says-he-used-medical-marijuana-while-in-office/|title=A GOP congressman says he used medical marijuana while in office|newspaper=Washington Post|date=May 25, 2016|access-date=February 19, 2017}}
In 2016, Blumenauer and Rohrabacher agreed to form a congressional caucus to streamline cannabis reform legislation at the federal level, considering it a states' rights issue.{{cite web|url=http://www.decodedc.com/congressmen-launch-cannabis-caucus-2017/|title=Congressmen to launch Cannabis Caucus in 2017 • DecodeDC|work=DecodeDC|date=December 9, 2016|access-date=February 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219094950/http://www.decodedc.com/congressmen-launch-cannabis-caucus-2017/|archive-date=February 19, 2017|url-status=dead}} In February 2017, Rohrabacher and Blumenauer launched the caucus with Jared Polis, a Democrat from Colorado, and Don Young, a Republican from Alaska.{{cite web|url=https://www.adn.com/politics/2017/02/16/alaskas-don-young-is-a-founding-member-of-the-bipartisan-u-s-house-cannabis-caucus/|title=Alaska Rep. Young is a founding member of the U.S. House Cannabis Caucus|work=Alaska Dispatch News|date=February 16, 2017|access-date=February 18, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2017/02/16/jared-polis-cannabis-caucus-congress/|title=U.S. Rep. Jared Polis joins with congressional colleagues to create Cannabis Caucus – The Denver Post|work=The Denver Post|date=February 16, 2017|access-date=February 18, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2017/02/16/congress-cannabis-caucus/|title=Pro-Pot Lawmakers Have Launched a Congressional Cannabis Caucus|work=Fortune|date=February 16, 2017|access-date=February 18, 2017}} The caucus intends to increase medical research into cannabis and change regulations on banking and taxation for cannabis businesses.{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/pot-lawmakers-cannabis-caucus|title=Pro-Pot Lawmakers to Join Forces, Launch Cannabis Caucus|work=Roll Call|date=February 16, 2017|access-date=February 19, 2017}}
In the 116th Congress, Rohrbacher and Polis left Congress and were replaced by Barbara Lee, a Democrat from California, and David Joyce, a Republican from Ohio, as co-chairs.{{cite web|last=Strekal |first=Justin |url=https://blog.norml.org/2019/01/09/congressional-cannabis-caucus-co-chairs-announced/ |title=Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Announced |date=January 9, 2019 |publisher=Blog.norml.org |access-date=January 9, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-announces-co-chairs-congressional-cannabis-caucus-116th |title=Blumenauer Announces Co-Chairs of Congressional Cannabis Caucus for 116th Congress |publisher=Blumenauer.house.gov |access-date=January 9, 2019 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124142327/https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-announces-co-chairs-congressional-cannabis-caucus-116th |url-status=dead }} After Don Young died in office in 2022, he was replaced by Brian Mast of Florida.{{cite news|title=Where Is Marijuana Legal? State Laws and Federal Cannabis Legislation – The Congressional Cannabis Caucus tapped Republican Rep. Brian May as its newest co-chair.|author=Dan Avery |date=April 11, 2022 |publisher=CNET News|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/politics/where-is-marijuana-legal-state-laws-and-federal-cannabis-legislation/}}
In January 2025, it was announced that Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) would serve as Caucus co-chairs, replacing Reps. Blumenauer and Lee.{{Cite news |last=Jaeger |first=Kyle |date=2 January 2025 |title=The Congressional Cannabis Caucus Has New Leaders As The Push For Federal Reform Continues Into 2025 |url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/the-congressional-cannabis-caucus-has-new-leaders-as-the-push-for-federal-reform-continues-into-2025/? |access-date=4 January 2025 |work=Marijuana Moment}}
Members
File:Don Young with a pot plant.jpg
Current members:
- Dina Titus (D-NV)
- Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
- David Joyce ({{USpolabbr|R|OH}})
- Brian Mast ({{USpolabbr|R|FL}})
Past members:
- Jared Polis ({{USpolabbr|D|CO}}) – elected Colorado governor in 2018
- Dana Rohrabacher ({{USpolabbr|R|CA}}) – defeated during 2018 election
- Don Young ({{USpolabbr|R|AK}}) – died in office, March 2022
- Earl Blumenauer ({{USpolabbr|D|OR}}) - retired in 2024
- Barbara Lee ({{USpolabbr|D|CA}}) - did not seek re-election in 2024
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
Further reading
- {{citation|work=Slog|type=blog|title=Federal Enforcement and the Congressional Cannabis Caucus|author=Sean Clancy|date=March 2, 2017|publisher=The Stranger|location=Seattle|url=http://www.thestranger.com/slog/2017/03/02/24955548/federal-enforcement-and-the-congressional-cannabis-caucus}}
- {{citation|work=Wonkblog|type=blog|publisher=The Washington Post|title=Just how mainstream is marijuana? There's now a "Congressional Cannabis Caucus."|author=Christopher Ingraham|date=February 17, 2017|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/02/17/just-how-mainstream-is-marijuana-theres-now-a-congressional-cannabis-caucus/}}
{{Cannabis in the United States}}
{{Ideological caucuses in the U.S. Congress}}
{{authority control}}
Category:2017 establishments in Washington, D.C.
Category:Cannabis in the United States
Category:Cannabis law reform in the United States