Late yesterday, the House passed a measure that would prevent the feds from interfering with state medical marijuana laws. German Lopez remarks that this is “the first time in history that any chamber of Congress has acted to protect medical marijuana businesses and users”:
The vote, while historic and a bit surprising even to advocates, is part of the federal government’s ongoing shift toward more liberal marijuana policies. Just a few weeks ago, the feds increased how much marijuana can be grown for medical research. President Barack Obama and his administration have also taken steps to mitigate prosecutions against marijuana businesses that operate legally under state laws.
Sullum is encouraged by the bill’s bipartisan support:
Similar meaures have failed in the House six times since 2003. This year the amendment attracted record support from Republicans, 49 of whom voted yes, compared to 28 last time around. “This measure passed because it received more support from Republicans than ever before,” says Dan Riffle of the Marijuana Policy Project. “It is refreshing to see conservatives in Congress sticking to their conservative principles when it comes to marijuana policy. Republicans increasingly recognize that marijuana prohibition is a failed Big Government program that infringes on states’ rights.” Before the vote, Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, and Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, argued in Politico that it “ought to be an easy ‘yes’ vote for members of the 10th Amendment Task Force on Capitol Hill and other believers in limited government and federalism.”
The Dish 