Gillibrand announces provision in Omnibus appropriations package that would prevent DOJ from interfering with implementation of state medical marijuana laws
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the inclusion of a provision in the Omnibus appropriations package that will prohibit the use of federal funds by the U.S. Department of Justice to interfere with the implementation of states’ medical marijuana laws. Even though 29 states and the District of Columbia have made medical marijuana legal, marijuana in any form is still prohibited at the federal level.
“I am pleased that this provision is included in the Omnibus Appropriations package so that the Department of Justice cannot interfere with states’ rights to implement their medical marijuana laws,” said Gillibrand. “Parents should be able to give their sick children the medicine they need without having to fear that they will be prosecuted. Veterans should be able to come home from combat and use the medicine they need without having to fear that they will be prosecuted. I will continue to urge my colleagues to pass my bipartisan legislation, the CARERS Act, so that the children and families who desperately need this medicine can finally access it without fear.”
In December last year, Gillibrand led a letter with a bipartisan group of Senators calling on House and Senate leadership to include a provision in the Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations package to prevent the DOJ from using any funds to interfere with the implementation of states medical marijuana laws. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Steve Daines (R-MT) signed onto Gillibrand’s letter.
The text from Gillibrand’s letter is available here.