Interesting article re. protection of cannabis use in USA.(CSE:IAN) (OTCQB:ITHUF), which owns, operates, and partners with licensed cannabis operations throughout the United States, today issued the following statement in response to the inclusion of medical cannabis protections, known as the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment (“the Amendment”), in the omnibus spending bill passed by the U.S. Congress on Thursday, March 22. The Amendment prohibits the Department of Justice from using federal funds to interfere with state medical cannabis laws and the companies in compliance with those laws. This includes state regulated use, distribution, or cultivation of cannabis. The Company’s statement reads as follows:
“The passing of the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment as part of the omnibus federal spending bill again shows Congress’ support for protections for the medical cannabis industry. The Amendment has been included in every budget passed since 2014 and allowed the industry to flourish in states that have passed medical cannabis legislation. The passing of the Amendment also serves as a signal of support from Congress following the rescinding of the Cole Memorandum in January, a move that has had little to no material impact on the regulated cannabis market.
The American people have demonstrated overwhelming support for regulated cannabis and the right of states to determine their own cannabis laws. According to a study published by Gallup in October 2017, 76% of American voters believe the federal government should not interfere with the rights of states to determine their own cannabis laws, and an overwhelming 94% of American voters support medical cannabis. The reauthorization of Rohrabacher-Blumenauer is a good start for recognizing the wishes of the American electorate, but we encourage Congress to continue to explore and implement further protections for regulated cannabis.
