Article was originally publish on MLive By Gus Burns | fburns@mlive.com
LANSING, MI — Michigan and the federal government don’t see eye to eye when it comes to marijuana.
In an effort to feel out where the government stands on the plant amid a national shift toward legalization, the state House is considering a resolution asking President Donald Trump and Congress to clarify their position on marijuana.
While 33 states, four U.S. territories and the District of Columbia allow medical marijuana use and 11 states, including Michigan, allow recreational marijuana sales and consumption, marijuana is classified as a schedule 1 narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act, which means it’s deemed to have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.
“Despite federal law criminalizing marijuana, many states have exercised their authority to enact marijuana laws that reflect the needs and interests of their citizens,” says the resolution sponsored by state Rep. Jeff Yaroch, R-Richmond. “Currently, the state of Michigan is among the majority of states that have chosen to regulate marijuana under state law.
” … The federal government’s lack of clarity and inconsistency in its interpretation of the legality of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 has created confusion and uncertainty for states legislating marijuana operations. This, in turn, affects law enforcement, banking, taxation and zoning.”
The resolution is set to be voted on by the state Judiciary Committee Tuesday, Feb. 25. If passed it would go to the full House.
If passed by the Legislature, the resolution would be delivered to Trump, the U.S. Senate, Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi and the Michigan congressional delegation.
Mark Lotter, the Director of Strategic Communications for President Trump’s re-election campaign, indicated during an interview last week that the president has no plans to legalize marijuana use federally.
“He’s looking at this from the standpoint of a parent,” Lotter told Las Vegas’ 8 News NOW’s Vanessa Murphy. ” … To make sure we keep our kids away from drugs, they need to remain illegal, is the federal policy.
“If he changes that, I wouldn’t want to get out in front of him on that.”
Prior to his election, Trump said legalization should be a state issue.