January 12, 2018

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces REFER Act to Prohibit Federal Intrusion in State Marijuana Laws

Washington, D.C. –  Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced H.R. 4779, the Restricting Excessive Federal Enforcement and Regulations of Cannabis (REFER) Act, to prevent federal government interference in state and local marijuana laws. This legislation would prohibit federal spending from being used to enforce federal government intrusion in states and municipalities that have updated their laws regarding cannabis use, possession, cultivation and distribution.

“The federal government has no business interfering in states that have decriminalized cannabis. American voters have sent a clear message – it’s time for the government to stop wasting taxpayer money on the failed War on Drugs and take long overdue action to reform cannabis policies,” said Congresswoman Lee. “That’s why I’m introducing the REFER Act, which would prohibit federal funding for efforts intended to interfere in state and local cannabis laws. It would also lift long-overdue federal restrictions on banking for cannabis industries.”

“The cannabis industry is moving forward, despite the best efforts of the Trump Administration to hamper this progress,” added Congresswoman Lee. “One in five Americans resides in a state where cannabis use has been legalized. By passing the REFER Act, Congress can end the federal government’s wrongful targeting of this industry and ensure that the will of the American people is respected.”

The bill text can be viewed here.

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