Introduction of the Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act
Floor Speech
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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act. My bill would permit the use of marijuana in federally assisted housing, including public housing and the Section 8 housing program, in compliance with the marijuana laws of the state where the property is located.
Individuals living in federally funded public housing should not be denied admission, or fear eviction, for using a legal product. The use of recreational and/or medicinal marijuana is currently legal in 29 states and the District of Columbia, and over 90 percent of Americans support legalized medical marijuana. Under current federal law, the users of drugs that are illegal under federal law, including marijuana, are prohibited from being admitted into federally assisted housing. Moreover, federal law allows landlords to evict current residents for drug use. Even the Food and Drug Administration has recently supported approving certain medication made from cannabis, including Epidiolez, which would be administered as a syrup. Epidiolez is used to treat children who suffer from seizures. Notably, the drug does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis.
For the last several years, Congress has prohibited the Department of Justice (DOJ) from using federal funds to prevent jurisdictions from implementing their medical marijuana laws. This bill would similarly allow individuals to use marijuana in federally assisted housing in compliance with the state's marijuana laws.
Under my bill, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development must also develop regulations that restrict smoking marijuana in federally assisted housing in the same manner and to the same locations as the Secretary restricts smoking tobacco in federally assisted public housing.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development, like the DOJ, should not be allowed to enforce federal marijuana laws where states have taken action to legalize marijuana. The Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act states that a person may not be denied federally assisted housing based on the use of marijuana in compliance with the marijuana laws of the state where the property is located.
I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
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