States Reform Act

Representative Nancy Mace (S.C.) introduced the States Reform Act of 2021 as H.R. 5977 on November 15, 2021. The bill is the first federal cannabis legalization proposal sponsored by a Republican lawmaker. While the reaction from the cannabis community has been mixed, some hope that this will lead to further dialogue about compromise legislation.

States Reform Act of 2021 Coverage

“Today, only 3 states lack some form of legal cannabis. My home state of South Carolina permits CBD, Florida allows medical marijuana, California and others have full recreational use, for example. Every state is different. Cannabis reform at the federal level must take all of this into account. And it’s past time federal law codifies this reality.”

“This is why I’m introducing the States Reform Act, a bill which seeks to remove cannabis from Schedule I in a manner consistent with the rights of states to determine what level of cannabis reform each state already has, or not.

“This bill supports veterans, law enforcement, farmers, businesses, those with serious illnesses, and it is good for criminal justice reform. Furthermore, a super-majority of Americans support an end to cannabis prohibition, which is why only 3 states in the country have no cannabis reform at all.

“The States Reform Act takes special care to keep Americans and their children safe while ending federal interference with state cannabis laws. Washington needs to provide a framework which allows states to make their own decisions on cannabis moving forward. This bill does that.”

Rep. Nancy Mace, in a statement, on introducing States Reform Act

“I am a passionate supporter of a states’ rights approach to cannabis. For too long, the federal government has stood in the way of states that have acted to set their own cannabis policies. It is long past time to update our cannabis laws for the 21st Century,”

Representative Don Young (R-A.K.), House Cannabis Caucus Co-chair

States Reform Act Status

States Reform Act (H.R. 5977) Text

States Reform Act of 2021 Summary

The following PDF provides a break down, section by section, of what provisions are contained in H.R. 5977.

Source: Office of Rep. Nancy Mace

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  Minority Cannabis Academy: Social Equity in PracticeDecember 6, 2022
  The Minority Cannabis Academy graduated its first class of 25 students in September. The Academy’s goal is to take advantage of the social equity atmosphere in New Jersey to help those most harmed by prohibition. 
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  Marijuana Policy Project Releases Voter Guide to 2022 Governors’ Races and Cannabis Policy Reform Ahead of Midterm ElectionOctober 25, 2022
  On Tuesday, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) released their voter guide to 2022 governors’ races and cannabis policy reform. In 36 states, voters will be choosing their next governor on Election Day.
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  Green Thumb to Launch “RISE Express” Dispensaries in FloridaOctober 19, 2022
  Green Thumb Industries Inc., a leading national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and owner of RISE Dispensaries, today announced plans to expand its medical retail footprint in Florida through a lease agreement with Circle K, the global convenience store retailer.
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  Missouri AFL-CIO endorses cannabis legalization constitutional amendmentOctober 10, 2022
  Missouri AFL-CIO president Jake Hummel on Thursday announced his organization was endorsing the proposal, which will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot as Amendment 3, calling it a “huge step forward for criminal justice reform in Missouri.”
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  Minnesota’s Black cannabis users far more likely to face arrest than white onesSeptember 8, 2022
  Black Minnesotans are nearly five times as likely to be arrested on marijuana charges as white ones, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. It’s a disparity that has persisted for years, despite data showing that Black and white residents use cannabis at similar rates.
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  Lawmakers ask MO governor to add cannabis legalization in special sessionSeptember 6, 2022
  A bipartisan group of lawmakers and activists are calling for Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to include marijuana legalization on the agenda of the legislature’s upcoming special session.
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  In Brief: Pa. Governor Accepting Cannabis Pardon Requests in Sept.September 2, 2022
  Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman announce the PA Marijuana Pardon Program, offering expedited pardon reviews to people convicted of only minor cannabis possession for personal use.
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  Michigan State Police stops cannabis testing after false positivesAugust 31, 2022
  Michigan State Police have acknowledged that its blood tests for marijuana are producing false positives for THC, and it will immediately halt testing.
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  Missouri Dems expect boost from cannabis, but split on specificsAugust 29, 2022
  Support for legalization and heartburn about the amendment’s details have led to soul-searching among Democratic Party officials across the state. The consternation is particularly acute among Black Democratic leaders. 
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  Signatures on Nebraska medical cannabis petitions to get another lookAugust 26, 2022
  The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office has agreed to take another look at signatures submitted by a group seeking legalization of medical marijuana to determine if they should have been counted.