According to a Republican senator, it is time to establish a “federal regulatory construct” on marijuana while still allowing the states to enact cannabis legalization legislation.
According to Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC in a recent interview with MEDCAN24, “we have to break out of the mode whereby states enacting cannabis policies “run afoul” of federal laws.
In some instances, it seems that we think this is a bad idea” having such disparate laws. We don’t in the cannabis case. There are so many ways for criminals and other illicit players to access this area, and there are safety issues. “We have to take action.”
“We know how the play is going to end, so why not come up with a regulatory construct for consumer protection, for child safety, for health—and do it in a way that requires states to opt in?” Tillis responded. “So, I was just thinking about the framework of having excise taxes and money flowing into law enforcement and agencies. Then have Congress vote up or down on it.”
The comments came in response to a question about the federal ban on gun possession by people who use marijuana—with the senator saying that if alcohol drinkers can lawfully buy and use firearms, the same standard should apply to cannabis consumers.
Why should I care more about this than a person who drinks alcoholic beverages? “Why would I have a problem with that any more than someone who drinks alcohol?” asked the Senator.
Tillis separately said last week that the federal government should create a regulatory framework for marijuana with an excise tax and allow states to “opt in” to legalization—stating that he’s “not an anti-cannabis person” but stressing that certain rules should be implemented and criticizing the way an Indian tribe within his state has marketed its marijuana products.
During a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee with Attorney General Pam Bondi, he raised similar concerns regarding the tribal cannabis operation. He said he has “no problem with” the legalization of sales in that territory generally—but that he still finds “concerning” with respect to the conflict between state and federal marijuana laws.
Nearly three dozen States [have] The senator stated that “either medical, recreational or a hybrid model” of cannabis is available. The Senator said, “This reminds me of the attacks on the tobacco industry for marketing to youth.”
“I’m worried about this, as it is a business that makes money.” “It seems to me that they are preying upon the younger generation,” said he, referring to an app which he says allows those in states with cannabis prohibitions to buy marijuana from a state that is legal and to pick up their order after crossing borders.
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Senator McConnell is not the first person you would think to support comprehensive federal reform of marijuana laws, but for the past few months he has been making the case that regulation should be preferred over prohibition. He bases his stance in part on concerns about a tribe in North Carolina that has legalized marijuana and is marketing the product, despite the state not moving forward with reform.
The senator expressed his displeasure with the marketing strategy that has been used to promote marijuana outside the borders of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
“I mean, gosh, when you’re doing the ads in Charlotte: ‘One of the country’s biggest dispensaries,’ and you’ve got a really cute app and you’re advertising all these fruity names and everything, and you’re an island—I mean unless you’re going there and having one hell of a weekend, we all know that people are taking it and bringing it back,” he said. People need to be aware that the moment they cross the border, they are breaking the law.
The traffic has been stopped. It’s amazing,” Tillis said, referencing the tribe’s dispensary. I’m not anti-cannabis, but it has to be done legally.
Tillis also said last month that the federal government needs to “step up” and explore a regulatory framework for marijuana—and that should include a pathway to explore the “efficacy” of cannabis for certain health conditions.
At a separate Judiciary Committee hearing in June, Tillis said opponents of marijuana legalization “have lost” the fight to maintain prohibition and that “it’s time” for lawmakers to address that reality by creating a regulatory framework treating cannabis “in the same way that we do with alcohol and tobacco,” so that states can set their own policies without federal intervention.
Back in February, the senator also raised the issue during a Senate Banking Committee hearing, saying “we should reexamine [federal marijuana laws].” “But at the same, we damn sure shouldn’t do it just by passing” legislation which would prevent federal regulators to penalize banks working with state-legal marijuana businesses.
Tillis also said last December that he’s hopeful Congress will have a “discussion” about potentially creating a federal regulatory framework for marijuana in 2025, though he added that he personally wouldn’t vote to federally legalize cannabis.
Last year, the senator also said he supports creating a “comprehensive regulatory framework that treats marijuana just like tobacco,” arguing that “the federal government needs to figure out a safe way to allow this market to occur.”
Tillis in April joined Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) in asking federal, state and local officials what steps they were taking to enforce marijuana prohibition as an Indian tribe prepared to launch recreational cannabis sales on its lands within North Carolina.
Washington, D.C., is where the LCB has contributed to reporting.
Mike Latimer provided the photo.
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