The cannabis bill supported by President Donald Trump does not appear to have much traction with lawmakers. So far, congressional leaders have failed to back the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the bill in the Senate on June 7. Then the following day, Trump told reporters that he “would probably support” the STATES Act, as the bill is also known. Two months earlier, Gardner announced that he and the president had come to an agreement about cannabis and states’ rights, ending an impasse over judicial nominees.
Congressional Leaders Haven’t Yet Signed On
But despite the support from Trump for the bipartisan bill, key congressional leaders have not yet backed it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has said that he supports the decriminalization of marijuana. But a spokesperson told BuzzFeed in an email that the senator hasn’t endorsed the STATES Act.
“Schumer hasn’t taken a position on this bill,” the spokesperson said.
The Republican chairs of key congressional committees have also not yet backed the STATES Act. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would have to approve the bill before it could make it to a vote by the full Senate. An aide to the committee said that Grassley has no plans to entertain cannabis legalization bills.
“Sen. Grassley is not planning or considering hearings on any marijuana-related legislation at the moment,” the aide said.
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s ranking Democrat, Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), has said she supports the bill. But without the support of Republicans, the STATES Act seems doomed in the Senate.
A similar fate appears probable in the House of Representatives.