Rep. Matt Gaetz on Wednesday defended his stance on legalizing marijuana, saying a federalist approach, instead of a federal one, should govern laws affecting marijuana.
The Fort Walton Beach Republican wrote an opinion article for The Washington Examiner promoting the States Reform Act, a bill co-sponsored by Gaetz and South Carolina GOP Rep. Nancy Mace that would remove marijuana from the list of drugs considered most dangerous under the Controlled Substances Act.
On Nov. 2, the Examiner attacked the bill in an editorial, labeling it “a terrible idea. “Legalizing pot doesn’t pay,” the outlet argued, adding that decriminalization policies in left-wing states have done little to eliminate black markets or deliver on promises of “less crime, more tax revenue for states that choose to tax the drug, and fewer deaths from other addictive substances.”
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Gaetz, in his article, countered that issues created by black markets, even in states where weed is allegedly legal, are driven by “politicians overregulating and overtaxing” the substance, even as they reduced penalties for possessing and using it.
The States Reform Act, he continued, “is based on the principle of federalism.”
“Removing the federal prohibition on marijuana would officially allow the individual states the power to determine whether to prohibit, partially legalize, or fully legalize marijuana. Likewise, states would have the ability to determine how much or how little to regulate marijuana and how high or how low to tax it, similar to how states currently treat alcohol,” Gaetz wrote.
“Federal illegalization of marijuana is what gives rise to the largest black market for the product, which spans nationwide. Essentially, the editorial board argues that we need to keep incentivizing the most expansive marijuana black market in the country in order to ‘crack down’ on it.”
As the Tampa Free Press has reported, President Joe Biden in July directed the Departments of Health and Human Services and Justice to begin the process of removing marijuana’s Schedule I classification, which is reserved for the narcotics the federal government believes are the most dangerous.
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In his article, the Florida congressman also argued that the “demonization” of pot ignores its “countless pharmaceutical benefits.”
Cannabinoid-based medications “have helped millions of Americans find relief from chronic pain, epilepsy, PTSD, and other conditions.”
Concerning PTSD, Gaetz noted that marijuana has aided many military veterans to deal with the “physical and psychological scars” inflicted by the trauma connected to their service.
He argued that for vets, pot is a “potentially life-changing treatment” that has “shown promise in easing the burdens they carry.”
“Like any legislation, the States Reform Act is not a silver bullet,” Gaetz concluded, “but it is about embracing a more rational approach to drug policy, fostering scientific discovery, and supporting our veterans.”
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