Update 4/21/16: Four new co-sponsors have signed on to the H.R. 1538, CARERS Act, since CBT's last report April 12:
Grijalva, Raúl [D-AZ3]
(joined Apr 14, 2016)
Massie, Thomas [R-KY4]
(joined Apr 18, 2016)
Connolly, Gerald [D-VA11]
(joined Apr 19, 2016)
Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM1]
(joined Apr 20, 2016)
The bill now has 35 cosponsors (22 Democrats, 13 Republicans).
Editor's note: The CARERS Act is the most comprehensive medical marijuana bill introduced in Congress. Cannabis Business Times has covered its history and its potential impact both here and here, as the bill has taken on more House co-sponsors since its introduction.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, (D-NY8) signed on as a co-sponsor to the CARERS Act of 2015 (H.R. 1538), bringing the total number of co-sponsors to 32 as of April 12.
Jeffries is the second new sponsor within the last month, joining Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA26), who signed on Mar. 22, and the third new co-sponsor in 2016. Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL9) added her name to the list in February, as Cannabis Business Times reported. It was originally sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN9).
The bill, also called the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States Act, is supported by a bi-partisan group of co-sponsors now including 20 Democrats and 12 Republicans. It would allow states to set their own medical marijuana policies, and move marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule II substance federally to allow for research. It would not legalize marijuana in any state.
