Today, a government funding bill was stripped of numerous pro-marijuana industry amendments that would grant the industry access to the US financial system, allow Washington D.C. to institute a commercial marijuana market, and prevent enforcement of federal law and even basic federal oversight in states that have “legalized” the substance.
Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former senior drug policy advisor to the Obama Administration, released the following statement in response:
“This bipartisan deal is in the best interest of the American people – and it is a powerful testament of putting health above corporate profit.
“We and our partners worked hard for this. At a time when THC vaping is hurting people, and today’s marijuana is super-strength, we do not need to give this industry any more concessions.
“What’s more, the adoption of the Blumenauer Amendment would have prohibited the Food and Drug Administration from holding the marijuana industry accountable for marketing harmful, high potency marijuana products in kid-friendly forms – sending the message that no matter how many health and safety harms the industry causes, it is protected from federal oversight.
“At the height of a five alarm fire when it comes to vaping, granting such leeway to Big Pot is reckless. We know the marijuana industry’s hoard of lobbyists worked day and night to try and convince lawmakers to gift wrap all their priorities this year in this bill, and it’s refreshing to see them all be rejected. Today’s result is a win for public health advocates and gives us renewed momentum and hope as we go into the new year.”