Congressman Files ‘Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act’ on Jan 9

Rep. Earl Blumenauer filed the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act in the House on January 9 (the bill is actually numbered H.R. 420).

The legislation aims to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act once and for all, Forbes stated.

Blumenauer’s press release said, “While the bill number may be a bit tongue in cheek, the issue is very serious. Our federal marijuana laws are outdated, out of touch and have negatively impacted countless lives. Congress cannot continue to be out of touch with a movement that a growing majority of Americans support. It’s time to end this senseless prohibition.”

H.R. 420 would put the enforcement of the marijuana industry under the renamed agency the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana, Firearms and Explosives. Another agency was designed for this legislation that would have oversight of the marijuana industry. Its title is the Alcohol, Tobacco and Marijuana Tax and Trade Bureau. This agency is located inside the Department of the Treasury.

Permits would be issued at a federal level for sales, packaging, importing and growing marijuana.

The bill would not allow transport or shipping of marijuana to states that haven’t legalized it yet.