Policy Resolution HHS-19-23

WHEREAS, the battle over legal medical cannabis represents a monumental moment for states’ rights;

WHEREAS, the use of cannabis for medical purposes has been legalized in twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia, while seventeen states have more restrictive laws;

WHEREAS, the medicinal use of cannabis is a concept that spans tens of thousands of years and many cultures, both ancient and modern; 93 percent of Americans supported the legal, medical use of cannabis in a recent Quinnipiac poll;

WHEREAS, medical research indicates that cannabis can alleviate chronic pain and muscle spasms, reduce nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients, and improve appetite in HIV/AIDS patients; and

WHEREAS, cannabis is also recommended for anorexia, arthritis, migraines, and glaucoma when traditional treatments are ineffective.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) urge Congress to amend legislation to remove Marijuana from schedule I and reclassify it in a category that, at a minimum, will recognize cannabis as a drug with potential medical value;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL urges and encourages the United States Congress to enact a statute prohibiting the federal government from interfering with implantation of states’ medical cannabis laws; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL encourages the commission of a study to explore the fiscal impacts associated with the decriminalization or reclassification of marijuana for people of color; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution is transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, the U.S. Department of Justice, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

• SPONSOR: Representative Larry Miller (TN)
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Health and Human Services Policy Committee
• Certified by Committee Chair(s): Representative John King (SC) and Representative Toni Rose (TX)
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is November 30, 2018
• Ratification is certified by: Representative Gregory W. Porter (IN), President