AHPA endorses CARERS and Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Acts

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has endorsed the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act (CARERS Act) (H.R. 1538, S. 683), with the exception of the provision to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act. AHPA has also endorsed the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act (S. 2237) as introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I-VT).

The CARERS Act includes provisions to:

• Amend the Controlled Substances Act to enhance states' rights to determine drug policy for marijuana
• Exclude cannabidiol (CBD) from the definition of marijuana
• Ease banking laws that restrict legitimate cannabis businesses' access to financial services
• Stimulate research into medical marijuana
• Support access to state medical marijuana programs for veterans who reside in states with such programs

The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act includes provisions to:

• Remove marijuana from the Drug Enforcement Administration's list of the "most dangerous" drugs
• Strike marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act
• Allow states to decide whether they want to legalize pot for recreational or medical use without federal intervention

AHPA's Board of Trustees voted to endorse these bills at the recommendation of AHPA's Cannabis Committee.

"There is a growing body of evidence and data that demonstrate the medical benefits of cannabis," said Jane Wilson, AHPA's Director of Program Development and staff liaison to the Cannabis Committee. "If enacted, these bills would help more consumers benefit from the medicinal properties of this plant."