“Opposing everything that is not your version of perfect is not just hopeless—it is counterproductive. “Let’s make sure that perfection is not the enemy of advancement.”
By Shanita Penny, Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education and Regulation (CPEAR) & Forbes Tate Partners
Earlier in the month, CPEAR conducted a nationwide poll that proved what many of us already knew: Americans are overwhelmingly supportive of ending the federal prohibition against cannabis. This support is shared across regions, political parties and age groups.
In fact, 70 percent of registered voters back federal reform—and 61 percent support the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) 2.0 Act, a bipartisan proposal that respects state decision-making while addressing urgent public safety and regulatory concerns.
CPEAR was created in order to advance federal reform. We believe that Americans of all views, including those who are against cannabis, understand that the current status quo is not working.
Several people have raised questions about our survey and the policies it highlights. That’s fair—debate is healthy. It’s vital to base the conversation on facts and not speculation.
The polling we conducted was amongst a sample of over 2,000 voters registered across the nation. This poll captured the views of a diverse range of people from different political backgrounds, ethnicities and geographical locations. It found that voters want the federal government to get out of the way and let states decide how to regulate cannabis—something 40 states and D.C. have already done in some form.
The findings of our study are consistent with national trends that support a strong state’s rights approach. Federal reform must respect the fact that not all states will follow the same course. The voters also supported key STATES 2.0 components: keeping marijuana out of the hands and minds of children, improving law enforcement tools to combat impaired driving, crackingdown on cartel activities, as well as allowing for much needed research.
STATES 2.0 isn’t about corporate interests or consolidation—it’s about reality. It’s about aligning federal law with what’s already happening on the ground in the vast majority of states, while providing a framework to support existing cannabis businesses and better protect public health and safety. This bill provides the foundation for federal cannabis policy to progress.
No piece of legislation can satisfy all stakeholders. But we should all agree on this: The status quo—an outdated federal prohibition that stifles small businesses, impedes research and leaves millions in legal limbo—is not sustainable.
CPEAR supports STATES II because we believe it is a step in the right direction towards a fairer, more transparent, and better cannabis policy. We encourage a dialogue about how this policy can be strengthened, particularly for those communities who have suffered disproportionately from past enforcement. But we also believe in listening to the voters—and they’re telling us it’s time for Congress to act.
Opposing everything that is not your version of perfect is not just hopeless—it is counterproductive. Don’t let perfection be your enemy. Let’s get moving.
Shanita Penny, executive director for the Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education and Regulation, is also a senior Vice President at Forbes Tate Partners, a firm that specializes in lobbying.