Thinking Clearly

Bill to Establish Federal Marijuana Commission Introduced in Congress

MarijuanaPolicyProject

 

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced legislation in Congress today that would establish a federal commission to review current marijuana policies and explore ways to resolve the conflict between federal laws prohibiting marijuana and state laws that make marijuana legal for medical or personal adult use.

 “A national commission would provide us with the information we need to create sensible policy going forward,” Rep. Cohen said.

 

 The bill’s findings reference the last federal commission to examine marijuana and marijuana policies, known as the Schafer Commission for its chairman, Republican Pennsylvania Gov. Raymond P. Schafer. It was created by Congress in 1971, at which time marijuana was temporarily classified under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act pending the commission’s findings. Its comprehensive review culminated in a report that favored removing marijuana from Schedule I and ending marijuana prohibition, but it was largely disregarded by members of Congress and President Richard Nixon.