#blumenauer

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Meet Representative Earl Blumenauer, the Biggest Legalization Advocate in Congress

Marijuana legalization has been a long, uphill battle, but Representative Earl Blumenauer is positive things will only improve from here.

“I know for a fact that this is the most pro-cannabis Congress in history,” the Portland-based legislator said over the phone. “It’s going to continue.”

The Democratic representative for Oregon’s third district since 1996, Blumenauer is a lifelong public servant who has fought for legalization since his time in the state legislature and Portland City Council. A state legislator fresh out of college when Oregon became the first state to decriminalize marijuana in 1973, Blumenauer points to those early debates as foundational for his long standing outlook on the issue.

“I became firmly convinced then as a part of the debate’s research that the failed policy of prohibition of marijuana was ill-advised and unfair and made no sense. It’s something I have continued to work on, it’s an issue I have felt strongly about in Congress.”

At 70 years old, Blumenauer is the fiercest advocate for marijuana in Congress. Assisting nearly 90 candidates throughout the 2018 campaign season, he has become a source of information for those curious about the substance’s current legal standing and future legislative opportunities. The bow-tie loving Congressman may represent one of the safest Democratic districts in the country, but he understands the importance of working across the aisle to end the federal government’s restrictive outlook on weed.

Blumenauer is a co-founder and co-chair of the Cannabis Caucus, a bipartisan group that works to narrow the cannabis policy gap and support other members of Congress with their legalization proposals. Originally established in 2017, the Cannabis Caucus is now co-chaired by Democrats Blumenauer and Barbara Lee (CA-13) as well as Republicans David Joyce (OH-14) and Don Young (AK), another co-founder. Blumenauer calls it a forum for members and staff “to exchange ideas and work together.”

When asked why legalization is often labeled a Democratic issue, Blumenauer blames President Nixon’s “blatantly political” War on Drugs. The restrictive, law enforcement heavy approach proceeded despite the lenient recommendations made in The Report of the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse. In Blumenauer’s view, the policies enabled the administration to “demonize people they perceived as their enemies, people of color and kids,” and that attitude set the tempo for the Republican party.

Even though the Congressman can point to numerous examples of Republican leadership torpedoing cannabis legislation, including his own amendments that would have made it easier for the Department of Veterans Affairs to access medical marijuana, he believes federal legalization is becoming an increasingly non-partisan issue.

Joe Frazier/Wikimedia Commons

“We work with Republicans,” Blumenauer said of his ongoing efforts. “All our legislation we work to have bipartisan support to give them another chance, but I think the reason it’s been perceived as something more oriented towards Democrats is Republicans have been on the wrong side of this issue.”

Countering the narrative that marijuana is a gateway drug, the Congressman pointed out that states with legal medical marijuana have fewer opiate deaths per year. Furthermore, he believes that the current system has made it easier for black markets to thrive and target young customers, with dealers often introducing new products as a way to diversify their selection and retain their clientele.

“Having a failed policy of trying to suppress cannabis, failing to regulate, tax and educate, is key to having a thriving black market,” Blumenauer said. “I’ve been campaigning all over the country for years on this and I’ve never been any place where people felt that a young person had a harder time getting a joint than a six-pack of beer.”

To assist his allies in the 116th Congress, Blumenauer released a memo laying out a multi-pronged approach to achieving legalization. With Democrats firmly in control of the House for the first time since the 2010 elections, Blumenauer wants to see a number of different committees hold hearings related to marijuana policy. He even introduced his own bill, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, aptly designated H.R. 420, in January.

The Financial Services Committee, chaired by Maxine Waters (CA-43), was recently approved by the House Financial Services Committee. If signed into law, the bill would allow businesses and individuals associated with the legal cannabis industry to use federal banks, allowing them to safely deposit their cash and access expanded lines of credit.

“The problems surrounding denying the state-legal cannabis industry access to banking services is so ludicrous on its face if you care about money laundering, or theft, or tax evasion,” Blumenauer said of his support for the bill. “This is going to be evolutionary.”

Of critical importance to the Congressman are issues related to social justice, like expunging criminal records and performing acts of restorative justice, to make it easier for communities who were impacted by prohibition to benefit from the legal changes.

“Being able to give them a clean slate, give them an opportunity to participate in a growing economic sector, is important. [The marijuana industry is] going to be bigger than the N.F.L. in a few years and I think that’s going to be an important conversation that we’re going to have more attention on.”

As Congress hums along, the early days of the 2020 campaign have also brought renewed attention to the issue with multiple candidates talking about their former use and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroducing the Marijuana Justice Act. No matter what happens in 2020, Blumenauer isn’t ambiguous about his beliefs for the future as more states get behind legalization of some form.

“Let me just state unequivocally: there will never be another president elect who’s anti-cannabis. It will not happen.”

Of the nine states that had legalization measures on the ballot in 2016, including swing states like Florida and Nevada, cannabis often received a higher percentage of votes than Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, meaning it has become a nonpartisan issue as far as the electorate is concerned. 2016 even saw medical marijuana breach the Bible Belt with the passage of Arkansas’ Issue 6, breaking the seal for neighboring states to develop their own medical industries in the coming years.

It’s a bit of an understatement to say that Blumenauer is optimistic about where things are headed. Sure, someone may rise up and become the new Pete Sessions, a fiery anti-marijuana Republican who Blumenauer referred to as “public enemy number one” in Congress, but with the debate finally moving towards substantial policy questions that’s not what Blumenauer’s focused on.

“There may be a few other people who are there, but I think in the main, it’s highly unlikely that people are going to run out there and lift this banner and crusade against this,” Bluenauer theorized. “We’ll be ready if they do, but I think it’s much less likely.”

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Oregon’s Earl Blumenauer Issues Statement On SAFE Banking Act & Re-Introduction Of States Act

Since Oregon became the first state to decriminalize cannabis in the 1970’s, I have been working to correct the disconnect between federal cannabis policy and the needs and wishes of the American people.

Now, with the most cannabis supported Congress in history, it is time for action to get federal policy aligned with what the American public needs, and what forty-seven states have done to legalize some form of cannabis. Last fall, I outlined a blueprint on the steps that should be taken in this Congress, with a role for many committees to address this policy gap with action, and we are now seeing some of that come to life.

Last week, the most important step ever by any committee was taken in the Financial Services Committee after a three-day long mark-up on the SAFE Banking Act. This is the first time that major cannabis legislation is headed to the floor and passed out of committee with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 45 to 15, including nine Republicans.

Today, we introduced the bicameral, bipartisan STATES Act, to allow each state to determine its own marijuana policy within its borders. This is the highest profile legislation that has broad support on both sides of the capitol. I’ve also Introduced other legislation which could help advance this agenda, especially the Veterans Equal Access Act, to allow our veterans access to medical marijuana.

The failed war on drugs waged by Richard Nixon has devastated communities of color for far too long as well. Along with Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chair Barbara Lee, we’re working toward restorative justice with bills in Congress like the Marijuana Justice Act, the REFER Act, and the RESPECT Resolution to restore, rebuild and reinvest in communities disproportionately impacted by the failed war on drugs.

As outlined in our blueprint for cannabis policy reform, there are many opportunities for the for congressional committees to move forward with hearings and legislation to help close this policy gap. Ending the failed prohibition of cannabis is not a matter of if, but when. I will continue to fight to legalize and ensure that Congress catches up to the American people. I’m excited about the increased support and the potential for action as we continue to blaze a trail for reform.

Courage,

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Oregon's Sen. Wyden & Rep. Blumenauer tweeted photos of themselves celebrating a new hemp-based CBD donut from Blue Star Donuts.

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U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Democrat from Oregon, seeks to regulate marijuana like alcohol.

A bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon, seeks to regulate marijuana like alcohol.

The bill introduced Wednesday would take marijuana off the federal controlled substances list and establish a nationally regulated industry overseen by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Blumenauer has long advocated legalizing marijuana at the federal level.

He authored a blueprint last year for his like-minded congress members on how to achieve that goal now that the House of Representatives has a Democratic majority.

The bill number for the so-called Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act is H.R. 420.

That’s a tongue-in-cheek reference to 420, a slang term frequently used to reference marijuana.

Blumenauer is founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.

Source: https://www.wcjb.com/content/news/Bill-by-Oregon-congressman-would-regulate-weed-like-alcohol-504160971.html

  Marijuana Moment have posted the draft bill on SCRIBD . you can only access via the MM site at

Read Congress’s New H.R. 420 Marijuana Bill

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Rep. Earl Blumenauer Introduces Bill to Regulate Cannabis Like Alcohol

Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon introduced a bill on Wednesday to federally regulate cannabis like alcohol. The bill, in a reference to pot culture, has been designated as House Resolution 420.

“While the bill number may be a bit tongue-in-cheek, the issue is very serious,” said Blumenauer. “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.”

If passed, the measure would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and put the regulation of cannabis under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Removing marijuana from the CSA, where it is listed as a Schedule I drug, would allow federal grants to fund cannabis research and eliminate tight regulations on banking and other financial services. Passage of the bill would also allow for interstate cannabis commerce between states with legal pot. That would allow Blumenauer’s home state of Oregon, which is experiencing a weed glut, to export to other markets.

The Food and Drug Administration and the renamed Alcohol, Tobacco and Marijuana Tax and Trade Bureau, part of the Department of the Treasury, would have regulatory jurisdiction over the newly legal cannabis industry. The federal government would issue permits for the cultivation, packaging, sale, and importing of cannabis.

H.R. 420, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, has been referred to the House Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Natural Resources, and Agriculture committees for consideration. The text of the measure has not yet been posted to the House of Representatives website.

New Congressional Cannabis Caucus Chairs

Also on Wednesday, Blumenauer announced the new co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus for the 116th Congress, which began earlier this month. The caucus is a bipartisan forum in the House of Representatives “to discuss, learn, and work together to establish a better and more rational approach to federal cannabis policy,” according to a press release from Blumenauer.

“The Cannabis Caucus was the first of its kind to create a forum for elected officials to collaborate on ways to address our outdated federal marijuana laws,” said Blumenauer. “Congress is clearly out of step with the American people on cannabis when national support for federal marijuana legalization is at an all-time high and we saw several states move toward legalization last November.”

Joining Blumenauer as co-chairs will be California Democrat Rep. Barbara Lee, who will be the first woman of color to co-chair the caucus; Rep. Dave Joyce, a Republican from Ohio, and Rep. Don Young, an Alaska Republican.

“Over the last decade, I’ve worked to build understanding and consensus on the need for reform and our movement is cresting. I’m looking forward to working alongside Reps. Lee, Joyce, and Young to build on the bipartisan work we’ve done to end the senseless federal prohibition on marijuana once and for all,” said Blumenauer.

Rep. Lee said that is time to end the failed prohibition of cannabis.

“For far too long, communities of color and women have been left out of the conversation on cannabis. I am committed to ensuring that marijuana reform goes hand-in-hand with criminal justice reform so we can repair some of the harm of the failed War on Drugs. We must also work to build an industry that is equitable and inclusive of the communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition,” said Lee.