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Bi-Partisan Congressmen Team Up for Marijuana Legalization

By Press Release
January 28, 2016 12:09 AM

WASHINGTON, DC — Two U.S. congressmen — a conservative Republican and a progressive Democrat — are teaming up in California to advocate marijuana legalization.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) will share the stage at the International Cannabis Business Conference in San Francisco Feb. 13-14.

Rohrabacher will discuss his battle to stop the federal government continuing to shut down California dispensaries.

“I co-authored the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment to stop overzealous federal weed warriors from raiding law-abiding medical marijuana shops,” he said, “but we can’t stop there.”

Blumenauer intends to tell the crowd that full legalization has been successful in his state of Oregon and that California stands to benefit from an overhaul of the state’s pot laws.

“In Oregon, fewer people are being arrested for minor marijuana offenses, tax money is being collected, and police are more focused on stopping violent criminals,” Blumenauer said. “California can have that, too. Legalization works.”

Although none of the various legalization measures vying for California’s November ballot have qualified yet, Blumenauer said it’s important for advocacy champions, law enforcement, and citizens to join the conversation about a more sensible approach to marijuana laws. Marijuana arrests in California have fallen in recent years, but thousands of people still face penalties for possession.

“Lives are still being ruined by the war on marijuana, even as individual states blaze the trail by regulating and legalizing,” Blumenauer said. “California has the largest population in the country, and passing reform here will accelerate the national movement.”

Both congressmen are longtime champions of marijuana reform and have been advocating change in federal marijuana laws for more than 30 years.

“We’re lucky they are on our side and thrilled to have them at the conference,” said International Cannabis Business Conference producer Alex Rogers.

California has a $1.3 billion marijuana market, the largest in the U.S., and legal marijuana is the fastest growing industry in the country, according to The ArcView Group, a cannabis industry investment and research firm. Newly-passed medical regulations are transforming the state’s industry, and San Francisco has begun crafting recreational rules in anticipation of full legalization.
http://www.thedailychronic.net/2016/52844/bi-partisan-congressmen-team-up-for-marijuana-legalization/