States Turn To Unenforced Federal Law To Slow Medical Marijuana Legalization — Roll Call

«States are authorizing conduct that is forbidden under federal law, so at first blush, I can see how this might be complicated and unexpected, but at this moment, two-thirds of the country have executed comprehensive medical marijuanalaws,» says Karen O’Keefe, state policy director for the Marijuana Policy Project, a pro-legalization advocacy group that lobbied for the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment.

The rider stopped most raids involving medical cannabis in states with legalization.

The clients and providers who cultivate, process and dispense the cannabis these patients rely on in these states for the treatment of debilitating disease do not have to fear federal charges as long as they remain in compliance with state law, says Sean Khalepari, regulative affairs organizer for the pro-Medical Marijuana Services cannabis group Americans for Safe Access.

But the uncommon nature of the arrangement is not well comprehended, some state.

Confusion reigns

It took more than a years for Congress to pass the amendment, called for its sponsors, previous California Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican, and Sam Farr, a Democrat. After some Republican lawmakers voiced support, it passed the House directly in 2014 and was maintained in a last appropriations offer. President Barack Obama signed it into law.