The CARERS Act, which would make the federal ban on marijuana inapplicable to people who comply with state laws allowing medical use of the plant, has attracted a couple of interesting cosponsors since it was introduced last week. Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) signed on last Wednesday, and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) joined him yesterday. Both represent states with medical marijuana laws.
Heller, who was known as a moderate when he served as a state legislator and Nevada's secretary of state, moved right when he represented Nevada's 2nd Congressional District, then moved left when he ran for the Senate in 2012. Announcing his support for the CARERS Act, he hit themes with appeal on the left and the right. "The time has come for the federal government to stop impeding the doctor-patient relationship in states that have decided their own medical marijuana policies," he said.
