Congresswoman Lee Applauds Committee Passage of Key Cannabis Amendment
Washington, DC – Today, the House Committee on Appropriations passed an amendment introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Co-Chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, that protects all state, territory and tribal marijuana programs from federal intervention.
The Lee-Joyce amendment, which passed with bipartisan support, is now included in the FY23 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) spending legislation.
“Today the majority of Americans reside in a jurisdiction where the medical or adult use of cannabis is legal under state law,” Rep. Lee told fellow appropriators ahead of the vote. “We believe that the federal government should not interfere with these programs and should respect the will of the people residing in these states, territories and tribal jurisdictions.”
“It is critically important that we protect states, territories, and tribes that have made progress toward restorative justice by not interfering with their local laws,” she said.
Full remarks may be viewed here.
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. She serves as Co-Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Task Force, and Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus. She also serves as Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity. As a member of the House Democratic Leadership, she is the highest ranking Black woman in the U.S. Congress.