A new bill has been introduced into US legislation in the hopes of combatting outdated information supporting current marijuana policy. The potential federal marijuana legalization study was recently introduced to government.
Impact of Marijuana
Hawaii's House Representative, Tulsi Gibbard, introduced legislation on capital hill on Tuesday that would require a federal study on the impact of marijuana legalization and prohibition. Gabbard was joined by more than a dozen state representatives who have signed on to co-sponsor the bill.
According to Forbes, this new act, named the Marijuana Data Collection Act, pushes Human Services and the Department of Health to work with federal and state government agencies to collect data about the effects of State legalized marijuana programs.
The 1990's War on Drugs Wasted Billions
Gabbard spoke at a press conference addressing the active drug policy and the impact it has made on generations.
"For decades, bad data and misinformation have fueled the failed war on drugs that's wasted billions of taxpayer dollars, incarcerating Americans for nonviolent marijuana charges," Gabbard explained.
Gabbard states that the outdated policies on marijuana in the United States have turned everyday Americans into criminals and has cost taxpayers tremendously. Families have been torn apart because of these policies, and the US criminal justice system has been immensely strained.
Justin Strekal, the political director of NORML, said that representatives who oppose marijuana legalization should still support the measure because the Marijuana Data Collection Act will bring forth reliable and fact-based data. The public policy in place needs to be based on hard facts rather than on feelings and assumptions, Strekal insinuated.
Data Collection
The data collected on the new bill will highlight several cannabis-related issues. The financial benefits of legalization will be a focal point, but the study will also address taxes and other revenues. How the funds are being used, and their impact on each state's budget will be tracked as well.
The impact on employment with legalized weed will also be studied under the proposed bill, as well as the number of jobs directly and indirectly created by the marijuana industry.
The new bill must be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump before any sort of federal marijuana legalization study can occur.
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