Introduction of the Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Madam 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 Section 8 housing, in compliance with the marijuana laws of the state where the property is located.

Individuals living in federally assisted housing should not be denied admission, or fear eviction, for using a legal product. Adult use and/ or medical marijuana is currently legal in 36 states and the District of Columbia, and over 90 percent of Americans support legalized medical marijuana. Under current federal law, 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 residents of federally assisted housing for using illegal drugs.

The federal government has begun to change it approach to marijuana. In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration approved Eipdiolex, which is derived from marijuana. Eipdiolex is used to treat children who suffer from seizures. Notably, the medicine does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana. 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 a state's marijuana laws. HUD, like DOJ, should not be allowed to enforce federal marijuana laws where states have taken action to legalize marijuana.

Under my bill, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 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 housing.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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