The attorney general of Colorado on Wednesday sent a letter urging congressional leaders to ensure that small cannabis businesses are protected from being overtaken by Big Tobacco and other major industries as federal cannabis reform legislation advances.
Attorney General Phil Weiser (D) wrote that his state is “heartened” to see efforts on Capitol Hill to end federal cannabis prohibition and create a regulatory framework that still empowers states to make their own policy decisions. But he expressed concerns about large corporations potentially gobbling up the industry if preventative steps aren’t taken.
Weiser specifically discussed the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), a bill to federally deschedule cannabis and promote social equity that’s being sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). The trio has asked for public input on the proposal.
“I submit this letter in response to requests for comments to that proposed law and request that the Congress engage with the states when designing a federal regulatory system that protects public health and safety,” Weiser said.
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