House of Representatives Archives

Oklahoma House Votes 98 to 2 to Allow Use of Cannabis Extracts for Epilepsy

February 25, 2015February 12, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Oklahoma’s House of Representatives has voted 98 to 2 to approve House Bill 2154, a proposal to allow the use of low-THC cannabis extracts for children with severe epilepsy.

Under the proposed law, a child with epilepsy who receives a recommendation from a qualified physician would be authorized to possess and use cannabis extracts – including tinctures and oils – that are high in CBD (cannabidiol), yet low in THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). University medical centers would be allowed to produce, dispense and study the medicine.

U.S. House of Representatives Approves Bill That Would Defund Medical Cannabis Raids

December 12, 2014December 12, 2014 by Anthony Martinelli

The U.S. House of Representatives late last night gave approval to a massive national spending bill which includes a provision that would prevent the Justice Department or any other U.S. entity from enforcing federal cannabis laws in states that have legalized the plant for medical purposes.

The spending bill, which was approved with a 219 to 206 vote, also includes a provision to prohibit the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from interfering with state-sanctioned hemp research programs. The measure is now up for a Senate vote, which is expected to occur as soon as today.

U.S. House of Representatives Votes to Ease Cannabis Banking Laws

July 16, 2014 by Anthony Martinelli

The United States House of Representatives has voted in support of making it easier for banks to do business with cannabis outlets that are legal in the states they operate in.

The vote, which was 236 to 186, came Tuesday on legislation introduced by Louisiana Representative John Fleming, who was attempting to block the Treasury Department from implementing a memo it issued in February in conjunction with the Justice Department which tells banks that they won’t necessarily run afoul of federal law if they allow cannabis-related businesses to bank with them.

U.S. House To Vote On Budget Amendment To Defund Medical Marijuana Raids

May 18, 2014May 18, 2014 by Anthony Martinelli

By Erik Altieri, NORML Communications Director

In the coming days, members of the House of Representatives are expected to debate and vote on budget appropriation legislation for the Department of Justice. Representatives Rohrabacher and Farr will be introducing an amendment to this measure to prevent any of the department’s funding from being used to interfere with medical marijuana programs in states that have approved them.

Twenty-one states — Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington — as well as the District of Columbia have enacted laws protecting medical marijuana patients from state prosecution. Yet in all of these states, patients and providers still face the risk of federal sanction — even when their actions are fully compliant with state law.

U.S. Government on Verge of Legalizing Hemp Research, Legislative Outreach Becomes Vital

August 22, 2013August 21, 2013 by Anthony Martinelli

Last month the U.S. House of Representatives approved a national farms bill which included a historic hemp amendment; an amendment which would end the federal government’s prohibition on hemp research.

Although this isn’t what hemp legalization advocates would prefer, it’s still a huge step forward to have Congress admit that, at the very least, hemp is an issue worth studying. Given that numerous states – such as Kentucky and Vermont just this year – have legalized hemp on the state level, this new law would allow researchers in these states, such as university professors, to study the crop legally without obtaining DEA permission, which is required under current law.