Republican Lawmakers File Bill to Tax and Regulate Cannabis

On Monday, several Republican members of Congress introduced a bill to federally legalize and tax marijuana. The bill was presented as an alternative to pending Democratic-led reform proposals. Unlike previous GOP cannabis proposals, the States Reform Act — introduced by Representative Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) and co-sponsored by RCRC Delegation Representative Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove) — includes a variety of Democrat-supported equity provisions such as expungements for people with non-violent cannabis convictions and imposing an excise tax on cannabis sales. The proposed bill was well-received amongst longtime Democrat legalization advocates as well as some conservative cannabis groups such the Koch brothers-backed Cannabis Freedom Alliance.