A major GOP House caucus has released a “Family Policy Agenda” that expresses opposition to federal marijuana legalization and attempts to link its use to suicide and violence—but the cannabis criticism is leading to pushback within the group, with staff for two members openly telling Marijuana Moment that the lawmakers disagree with the prohibitionist rhetoric.
The 156-member Republican Study Committee (RSC) unveiled the agenda late last week. It details 10 ideological principles and more than 80 legislative recommendations “to guide conservatives’ work to restore the American family.”
Under a section titled “Protecting Children from Dangers of Drugs,” the committee, which counts nearly three out of four House Republican lawmakers as members, says that cannabis remains federally prohibited, “but that has not stopped more and more states and localities from legalizing it under their own laws.”
“This has led to an explosion of marijuana use among children, which is having a hugely negative impact on their health,” the report says, misconstruing data that shows underage cannabis use declining or remaining stable following the implementation of legalization. “Congress should not legalize marijuana, while also taking steps to constrain this new industry’s ability to harm children.”
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