South Carolina Republican Introduces Bill to Federally Decriminalize Marijuana
Summary from the AllSides News Team
On Monday, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) introduced a bill that would federally decriminalize marijuana. The proposal, titled the States Reform Act, would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, but would allow states to decide how to regulate the drug.
It would also establish a 3% federal marijuana tax to help “fund law enforcement, small businesses and veterans mental health initiatives." A November 2020 poll from Gallup (Center bias) found that 68% of Americans back legalizing marijuana, with support from half of Republicans and 83% of Democrats.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Republicans introduce bill to decriminalize marijuana
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) introduced legislation Monday to federally decriminalize and tax marijuana, an alternative to Democratic-led attempts to legalize the drug.
Details: The Republican-backed bill, called the States Reform Act, would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act while deferring to states on matters of regulation.
The legislation would implement a 3% federal tax on cannabis products to "fund law enforcement, small business, and veterans mental health initiatives," according to a news release.
The measure would also release and expunge people convicted of "nonviolent, cannabis-only related offenses" at the federal level. The...
From the Right
Republican-Backed Bill Would Decriminalize Marijuana
South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace introduced a bill Monday that would decriminalize marijuana nationwide.
The bill, titled the States Reform Act, would strike marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act while still allowing states to regulate the drug as they see fit, a news release touting the legislation said. It would establish a 3% federal marijuana tax which would help “fund law enforcement, small businesses and veterans mental health initiatives.”
“Every state is different. Cannabis reform at the federal level must take all of this into account,” Mace said in a press conference Monday....
From the Left
South Carolina Republican introduces bill to decriminalize marijuana at federal level 
Rep. Nancy Mace, a first-term Republican from South Carolina, introduced a bill Monday to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level, which she hopes will garner more GOP support for the legalization movement.
"This legislation, I believe, has something good for everyone, whether you're a Democrat or a Republican," Mace told reporters outside the Capitol, where she introduced her States Reform Act.
Even though it is legal in 18 states, with medical use permissible in 37 states, marijuana is illegal under federal law.
Mace's bill would strip cannabis of its classification as a Schedule I...
AllSides Picks
April 24th, 2024
More News about Public Health from the Left, Center and Right
From the Left
From the Center
From the Right
