Eric Swalwell on Drugs Withdrawn Democratic Presidential Challenger; CA Rep

Supports medical and recreational marijuana

• Allow Cannabis Businesses To Use Banks
• Allow VA Doctors To Recommend Medical Cannabis
• Allow States To Legalize Medical Cannabis
• Allow States To Legalize Recreational Cannabis
• End Cannabis Prohibition At Federal Level
• Cosponsors the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, which would legalize and regulate cannabis at the federal level.
• Cosponsors the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017, which would end cannabis prohibition at the federal level.
• Cosponsors the SAFE Banking Act of 2019, which would allow banks to work with cannabis businesses that are legal at the state level.
• Cosponsors the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2017, which would end the federal prohibition of industrial hemp.
• Voted in favor of preventing the Justice Department from prosecuting medical cannabis patients and providers in states where it is legal. (2015)
• Voted in favor of allowing VA doctors to recommend medical cannabis for veterans in states where it is legal. (2015)

Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws.

Congressional Summary:Amends the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of `marihuana.` Defines `industrial hemp` to mean the plant Cannabis sativa and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a THC concentration of not more than 0.3%.

Argument in favor (Sen. Ron Wyden):

Members of Congress hear a lot about how dumb regulations are hurting economic growth and job creation. The current ban on growing industrial hemp is hurting job creation in rural America and increasing our trade deficit. This bill will end this ridiculous regulation. Right now, the US is importing over $10 million in hemp products--a crop that US farmers could be profitably growing right here at home, if not for government rules prohibiting it. Now, even though hemp and marijuana come from the same species of plant, there are major differences between them. The Chihuahua and St. Bernard come from the same species, too, but no one is going to confuse them.

Argument in opposition (Drug Enforcement Agency):

The DEA regulatory opposition to industrial hemp production is based upon:
• The difficulty in distinguishing legitimate hemp with low narcotic concentration from illicit cannabis, and
• the perception that industrial hemp advocates have a hidden agenda of favoring legalization of marijuana.

Argument in opposition (DrugWatch.org 10/30/2013):

• The DEA ban on THC in hemp food products, though characterized as a drug war issue, is, in fact, a food safety issue. No state or country has scientifically established the safety of food products made from hemp.
• Smoking hemp/marijuana with a low THC level of 0.25 percent could result in psychological effects on inexperienced users (children, for example).
• Supporting industrial hemp/marijuana sends an ambivalent and harmful message to youth and others regarding marijuana.

Rated A by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2016 NORML scores as follows:

• C-/D/F: `hard-on-drugs` stance (approx. 243 members)
• C: mixed record on drug reform (approx. 45 members)
• A/B: pro-drug-reform stance (approx. 293 members)

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law`s mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty.

NORML is a nonprofit, public-interest lobby that for more than 30 years has provided a voice for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition. We represent the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly and believe the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana should no longer be a crime.

NORML supports the removal of all criminal penalties for the private possession & responsible use of marijuana by adults, including the cultivation for personal use, and the casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts. This model is called `decriminalization.`

NORML additionally supports the development of a legally controlled market for marijuana, where consumers could purchase it from a safe, legal and regulated source. This model is referred to as `legalization.`

NORML believes that marijuana smoking is not for kids and should only be used responsibly by adults. As with alcohol consumption, it must never be an excuse for misconduct or other bad behavior. Driving or operating heavy equipment while impaired from marijuana should be prohibited.

NORML strongly supports the right of patients to use marijuana as a medicine when their physician recommends it to relieve pain and suffering.

Lastly, NORML supports the right of farmers to commercially cultivate hemp for industrial purposes, such as food and fiber production.

Immunity for banks offering services to marijuana businesses.

Congressional Summary:This bill provides a safe harbor for depository institutions providing financial services to a marijuana-related legitimate business insofar as it prohibits a federal banking regulator from:

1. terminating or limiting the deposit or share insurance of a depository institution solely because it provides financial services to a marijuana-related legitimate business; or
2. prohibiting, penalizing, or otherwise discouraging a depository institution from offering such services.

Argument in Favor: [Cato Institute, March 31, 2016]: Marijuana is now legal under the laws of [several] states, but not under federal law. And this creates huge headaches for marijuana businesses:

• Two years after Colorado fully legalized the sale of marijuana, most banks here still don`t offer services to the businesses involved.
• Financial institutions are caught between state law that has legalized marijuana and federal law that bans it. Banks` federal regulators don`t fully recognize such businesses and impose onerous reporting requirements on banks that deal with them.
• Without bank accounts, the burgeoning pot sector can`t accept credit or debit cards from customers.

Voted NO on additional Drug War funding for synthetic drugs.

GovTrack.us Summary: (SITSA): There are more than 400 known types of synthetic--or `artificial`--drugs, which mimic the effects of substances including cocaine and ecstasy. They`ve largely begun to flood the market in recent years. The bill outlaws 13 different synthetic drugs of the most pernicious varieties. There are more than 400 known types of synthetic--or `artificial`--drugs, which mimic the effects of substances including cocaine and ecstasy. They`ve largely begun to flood the market in recent years.

GovTrack Pro/Con: Supporters argue the legislation will tackle a growing scourge in a far more timely and immediate manner than what the lagging DEA is usually able to accomplish. Opponents argue the bill would too greatly expand Attorney General Jeff Sessions` ability to criminalize drugs and impose unnecessarily punitive mandatory sentences, according to a letter signed by dozens of organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Human Rights Watch, and NAACP.Opponent`s argument to vote NO Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY): The bill would explicitly impose mandatory minimum terms of supervised release which undermines the discretion of judges who are in the best position to make such determinations based on the facts and circumstances of each case.

Legislative outcome: House Bill Passed 239-142-46, Roll Number 268 on June 15, 2018