Bipartisan STATES 2.0 Act Aims to Bridge the Gap Between Federal and State Cannabis Laws
Federal Cannabis Reform Gets a Fresh Push
Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH), Max Miller (R-OH), and Dina Titus (D-NV) have reintroduced the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) 2.0 Act, marking a significant bipartisan effort to address the increasingly confusing patchwork of cannabis laws across America.
The legislation aims to empower states, Washington D.C., U.S. territories, and federally recognized tribal nations to determine their own cannabis policies without federal interference, while simultaneously providing common-sense guardrails for public safety.
What the STATES 2.0 Act Would Do
The proposed legislation offers several key reforms:
State Autonomy with Federal Guardrails
The act would amend the Controlled Substances Act to exempt state-legal marijuana activities from federal prohibition, while maintaining federal support for states that choose to keep cannabis illegal.
"Whether a state is pro-legalization or anti-legalization, we can all agree that the current federal approach to cannabis policy is not working," said Congressman Joyce, who co-chairs the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.
Protection for Young People
The legislation maintains federal criminal provisions prohibiting:
Distribution to anyone under 21 years of age
Employment of persons under 18 in cannabis operations
Regulatory Framework and Product Safety
Rather than leaving cannabis in a regulatory grey area, the STATES 2.0 Act would:
Regulate marijuana products through the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
Empower the FDA to classify marijuana products appropriately
Ensure products meet standards for contaminant testing and manufacturing
Financial and Tax Relief
For businesses operating legally under state law, the act would:
Clarify that compliant transactions are not drug trafficking
Address section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, which currently prevents cannabis businesses from taking standard business deductions
Looking Forward
While previous attempts at federal marijuana reform have stalled, the STATES 2.0 Act represents a more moderate approach that could appeal to lawmakers across the political spectrum. By focusing on states' rights and regulatory clarity rather than full federal legalization, the bill addresses concerns from both cannabis supporters and skeptics.
As cannabis policy continues to evolve across the country, this legislation offers a potential path toward resolving the tensions between state and federal law that have complicated America's cannabis landscape for years.