A Proposal to Federally Legalize Recreational Cannabis
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Date
2021-05
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Abstract
This policy proposal examines the issue of the disparity between Federal and State positions regarding cannabis legalization with regards to State cross-border criminal activity and the preeminence of Federal law. The proposal is based on examination of the history of Federal cannabis prohibition policies, State legalization policies, cannabis’ part in drug law enforcement, and the growing legal cannabis industry. No Federal court has yet to tackle the disparity between Federal prohibition of cannabis and the 33 States that have legalized cannabis to some degree (either medicinally or recreationally). This demonstrates a reluctance to truly continue Federal prohibition out of nothing more than decades of flawed drug enforcement policies. Therefore, it was recommended that, in light of the U.S. House of Representatives passing the MORE Act of 2019, the Federal government should legalize cannabis products recreationally in order to more effectively establish a legal cannabis industry with regulations similar to the alcohol and tobacco industries currently.
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Federal cannabis policy, MORE Act of 2019, Cannabis policy reform