Why Federal Regulation?
Cannabis legalization is already happening, but federal action has been absent.
This support spans both parties and multiple generations.
Federal action is not only needed, it is inevitable.
Over 155 million Americans now live in a state with legalized, adult-use cannabis.
40 states and the District of Columbia have some form of a legal cannabis market.
- 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized adult-use cannabis
- 40 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical cannabis
88% of Americans say cannabis should be legal for medical or adult use.
About half of Americans (52%) say that cannabis reform is good for local economies.
(Pew)American voters are overwhelmingly in favor (66%) of cannabis reform.
- By a significant 49-point margin, registered voters favor Congress passing states' rights legislation for cannabis, allowing states to establish their own cannabis laws without conflicting with federal law.
- Support is even higher among GOP members, with 72% in favor. The legislation is particularly popular among both young voters (+58) and older voters (+39).
Continued state-by-state expansion without federal oversight and coordination creates intractable problems for consumers, patients, regulators, law enforcement, and the public. Fifty states with 50 different rules for cannabis means no standardization on critical issues like product format, testing, taxation, driving under the influence, or workplace safety. It risks a regulatory race to the bottom, will not eliminate the illicit market, and will not properly protect public safety and public health. A federal cannabis regulatory framework must be realized to create a safe and fair cannabis industry in the United States.