Worrying Implications for State Medical Cannabis Protections
While the bill preserves the long-standing Rohrabacher–Farr Amendment, Deb Tharp, cannabis policy analyst and frequent contributor, warns that the updated language effectively guts these protections in practice.
The rider now explicitly allows DOJ to enforce federal drug-free zone laws under 21 U.S.C. 860. These zones include any area within 1,000 feet of a school, university, playground or public housing, and within 100 feet of youth centres, swimming pools or video arcades.
“Actually, it’s not that allowing those enhanced penalties is the problem. It suspends those Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment protections entirely in Federal Drug-Free Zones. In other words, they’ve completely removed federal medical cannabis protections in most populated areas of the country.
“The Drug Free zones defined by 21 U.S.C. 860 are literally almost every street in your city.”
She detailed how extensive these zones are: “In or on, or within one thousand feet of, the real property comprising a public or private elementary, vocational, or secondary school or a public or private college, junior college, or university, or a playground, or housing facility owned by a public housing authority, or within 100 feet of a public or private youth center, public swimming pool, or video arcade facility. States allow closer locations than this for cannabis dispensaries because NO LOCATION IS NOT ENCOMPASSED BY THE ABOVE LIST.”
“To be crystal clear, we all know that adult use locations are unprotected anyway, BUT, they just removed protection for nearly every medical cannabis dispensary location in the country as well – 99% of them, except for those very few locations that are still outside of these zones. And forget home delivery.
They can snatch up any delivery driver they want. They can also arrest any patient who grows their own, arguing that the amount they possess is enough to justify charges of possession with intent to distribute. They can arrest caregivers for bringing cannabis to their patients, and there will be no more Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment to protect them.
“This is a brick wall for every patient and caregiver in this country.”
While the bill still has a way to go before being passed into actionable legislation, the ‘window is closing fast’, Tharp warned, adding that ‘people concentrate on recreational so much they forget how much we depend on the medical protections’.
Worrying Implications for State Medical Cannabis Protections
While the bill preserves the long-standing Rohrabacher–Farr Amendment, Deb Tharp, cannabis policy analyst and frequent contributor, warns that the updated language effectively guts these protections in practice.
The rider now explicitly allows DOJ to enforce federal drug-free zone laws under 21 U.S.C. 860. These zones include any area within 1,000 feet of a school, university, playground or public housing, and within 100 feet of youth centres, swimming pools or video arcades.
“Actually, it’s not that allowing those enhanced penalties is the problem. It suspends those Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment protections entirely in Federal Drug-Free Zones. In other words, they’ve completely removed federal medical cannabis protections in most populated areas of the country.
“The Drug Free zones defined by 21 U.S.C. 860 are literally almost every street in your city.”
She detailed how extensive these zones are: “In or on, or within one thousand feet of, the real property comprising a public or private elementary, vocational, or secondary school or a public or private college, junior college, or university, or a playground, or housing facility owned by a public housing authority, or within 100 feet of a public or private youth center, public swimming pool, or video arcade facility. States allow closer locations than this for cannabis dispensaries because NO LOCATION IS NOT ENCOMPASSED BY THE ABOVE LIST.”
“To be crystal clear, we all know that adult use locations are unprotected anyway, BUT, they just removed protection for nearly every medical cannabis dispensary location in the country as well – 99% of them, except for those very few locations that are still outside of these zones. And forget home delivery.
They can snatch up any delivery driver they want. They can also arrest any patient who grows their own, arguing that the amount they possess is enough to justify charges of possession with intent to distribute. They can arrest caregivers for bringing cannabis to their patients, and there will be no more Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment to protect them.
“This is a brick wall for every patient and caregiver in this country.”
While the bill still has a way to go before being passed into actionable legislation, the ‘window is closing fast’, Tharp warned, adding that ‘people concentrate on recreational so much they forget how much we depend on the medical protections’.
Cannabis Law Resources in Poland
Explore essential legal pages about cannabis cultivation, sales, and medical product regulations in Poland. These resources will guide you through permissions, certifications, and compliance requirements.
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Polish News Registration and Interests of Cannabis Businesses
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Permissions for Cannabis Sales in Poland
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Authorization for Importing or Manufacturing Medical Products
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Permission for Manufacturing or Importing Medical Products
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Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
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Registration of Medical Products in Poland