420 with CNW – Association of Local Authorities Calls for US Federal Cannabis Decriminalization

November 26, 2018 16:20:12

The U.S. National League of Cities (NLC) sat early this month and passed a number of resolutions appealing to the federal government to review its policy and laws on marijuana. The NLC represents more than 19,000 cities, towns as well as villages across the U.S.

The organization was founded back in 1924 and it aims at empowering local governments around the country. Their conference early this month passed two important resolutions on the issue of cannabis policy reform.

First, the conference passed a resolution calling on the federal government to end the ambiguity between federal and state laws on the issue of access to financial services by cannabis businesses.

Those ambiguities have restricted the cannabis industry to conducting business on cash-basis, a system that creates a number of risks including the rise in robberies and tax evasion since the authorities find it hard to track the volume and value of the transactions conducted by legal cannabis businesses.

The second resolution passed by the NLC was connected to the scheduling of cannabis by the U.S. federal government. The members called on the federal government to reschedule cannabis so that federal and state authorities have greater control over the industry.

Rescheduling cannabis would also enable federal authorities like the FDA and DEA to regulate the industry across the country so that cannabis consumers are protected from consuming cannabis which has mold, pesticides, fungus or other dangerous substances.

Currently, the regulation of cannabis is fragmented since each state that has legalized adult-use or medical cannabis has to pass its own laws and regulations to regulate cannabis within its borders.

Federal rescheduling would bring unity to the entire industry and everyone, including the federal and state governments as well as the consumers, would benefit.

The recent resolutions passed by the NLC show how the association has been evolving on the issue of marijuana. In the past, they would only pass resolutions that were general in nature. This year marked the first time that the association referred to specific marijuana laws which need to be reformed.

That boldness may be arising from the growing support for cannabis among people from all walks of life, including Republicans who have been historically opposed to cannabis legalization.

The National League of Cities now joins other groups, such as the Conference of Mayors and the National Conference of State Legislatures which have voiced their calls to have clarifications made at the federal level on issues of marijuana.

Pressure seems to be mounting on the federal government from the grassroots to reform the laws on marijuana. It remains to be seen for how long the feds will ignore those growing voices. The Flowr Corporation (TSX.V: FLWR), The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF) and other Canadian cannabis companies would wish their American counterparts a uniform legal regime that reduces the complications encountered when crossing state lines.

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