US Congressman Introduces Bill to Withhold Federal Funding from States, Tribes with Adult-Use Cannabis Programs

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., introduced Sept. 1 the Stop Pot Act, which would withhold certain federal funding from states and tribes with adult-use cannabis programs.

The bill, which would withhold 10% of federal highway funds for governments with laws permitting non-medical cannabis use, comes as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) plans to vote Sept. 7 on whether to legalize adult-use cannabis on tribal lands in North Carolina.

“The laws of any government should not infringe on the overall laws of our nation, and federal funds should not be awarded to jurisdictions that willfully ignore federal law,” Edwards said in a public statement. “During a time when our communities are seeing unprecedented crime, drug addiction and mental illness, the Stop Pot Act will help prevent even greater access to drugs and ease the strain placed on our local law enforcement and mental health professionals who are already stretched thin.”

The legislation, which is endorsed by the Christian Action League and Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action), would not apply to jurisdictions that have legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

“Today’s marijuana isn’t Woodstock Weed. It is a highly engineered drug that’s often wrapped in kid-friendly packaging, with potencies of up to 99 percent,” SAM Action President and CEO Kevin Sabet said in a public statement. “The legalization movement has worsened America’s mental health and addiction crisis by preying on communities of color and young people. Today’s commercial marijuana products are associated with depression, suicidality, IQ loss and most recently psychosis and schizophrenia, especially for young people. Federal law is clear—sales of marijuana and THC drugs are illegal. Congressman Edwards’ Stop Pot Act holds states accountable for violating federal law and undermining the authority of the FDA and the DEA.”

Meanwhile, the EBCI is set to vote Thursday on whether to legalize adult-use cannabis within their roughly 57,000-acre jurisdiction in western North Carolina. If passed, the referendum would allow the tribal council to regulate and oversee the industry, according to a local WSOC-TV report.