What is the impact of marijuana legalization in states that have adopted it? That's what the proponents of a newly filed U.S. House bill are hoping to find out.
Photo by Tom Sydow
Photo by Tom Sydow
The Marijuana Data Collection Act, introduced on Tuesday by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and a bipartisan group of cosponsors, would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to partner with other federal and state government agencies to study “the effects of State legalized marijuana programs on the economy, public health, criminal justice and employment.”
“For decades, bad data and misinformation have fueled the failed war on drugs that's wasted billions of taxpayer dollars, incarcerating Americans for nonviolent marijuana charges,” Gabbard said in House floor speech previewing the bill on Monday evening. “Our outdated marijuana policies have turned everyday Americans into criminals, strained our criminal justice system, cost taxpayers tremendously and torn families apart.”
“Our federal policies should be based on actual science and fact, not misplaced stigma and outdate myths.”
#ICYMI: Gabbard, @RepCurbelo Bill Builds Bipartisan Momentum Behind Federal Marijuana Reform https://t.co/idJnPYADtj pic.twitter.com/D9kFpTzmUM
— Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiPress) July 24, 2018
If the legislation is enacted, the National Academy of Sciences would carry out the research and publish initial findings within 18 months, with follow-up reports to be issued every two years after that.
So far, the bill's backers seem to consist solely of those who support marijuana law reform, a situation that legalization advocates decried.
“This is not a marijuana bill, it is an information bill,” Justin Strekal, political director for NORML, said in an interview. “No member of Congress can intellectually justify opposition to this legislation. Our public policy needs to be based on sound data and science, not gut feelings or fear-mongering. Approving the Marijuana Data Collection Act would provide legislators with reliable and fact-based information to help them decide what direction is most beneficial to society when it comes to marijuana policy.”
In 2016 alone, nearly 600,000 people were arrested for marijuana possession. Our laws must be informed by facts — not emotion, manufactured stigma and myths.
— Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiPress) July 24, 2018
Leading prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana did not respond to a request for comment about its position on the legislation.
Gabbard held a Tuesday morning press conference with other supporters, including lead GOP cosponsor Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) and former U.S. Attorneys Barry Grissom of Kansas and Bill Nettles of South Carolina.
W/ overwhelming support for state regulation of marijuana in #FL26 , federal government must stop being an obstacle to modernizing our #cannabis laws. Proud to introduce the #Marijuana Data Collection Act with @TulsiPress today to ensure state data is collected by @theNASciences. pic.twitter.com/DAgl12Vodw
— Rep. Carlos Curbelo (@RepCurbelo) July 24, 2018
Other original cosponsors of the bill include Reps.
