Votes in the U.S. House
HR 3884: LEGALIZING MARIJUANA UNDER FEDERALLAW
Voting 228 for and 164 against, the House on Dec. 4 passed a bill that would allow marijuana to be used legally for medicinal and recreational purposes under federal law while allowing states to continue to set their own marijuana policies. The bill would federally decriminalize marijuana by removing it from the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, which outlaws possession, sale and cultivation and imposes stiff fines and potential jail time for all but the most minor offenses. In addition, the bill would:
Impose a 5% to 8% sales tax on cannabis products, which would fund programs in communities devastated by drug abuse as well as Small Business Administration lending to commercial marijuana operations.
Allow the Veterans Health Administration to write marijuana prescriptions in states and territories where medicinal use is legal.
Require the expungement and sealing of federal marijuana convictions and a review of sentences for those serving time for offenses including the possession of small amounts.
Require the Department of Transportation to develop best practices to guide local, state and federal law enforcement in testing and recognizing drivers impaired by marijuana.
Prohibit any denial of benefits or protections under immigration law based on federal marijuana convictions.
Require the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on marijuana enterprises.
At least 36 states and territories authorize the medicinal use of marijuana, nearly a third of which also permit recreational use. Several other states have eased marijuana rules to a lesser degree, and six states totally outlaw the drug. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.
Yes: Madeleine Dean, D-4th (Montgomery, parts of Berks); Susan Wild, D-7th (Lehigh, Northampton, parts of Monroe); Matt Cartwright, D-8th (most of Monroe)
No: Brian Fitzpatrick, R-1st (Bucks, parts of Montgomery and Philadelphia); Dan Meuser, R-9th (Schuylkill, parts of Carbon and Berks)
AUTHORIZING WORKPLACE MARIJUANA TESTING
Voting 174 for and 218 against, the House on Dec. 4 defeated a Republican measure to guarantee that employers, under the terms of HR 3884 (above), would have the right to test job applicants and employees for marijuana impairment to ensure the safety of the workplace. Ayes vote was to adopt the motion.
Yes: Fitzpatrick, Meuser No: Dean, Wild, Cartwright