On July 28, 2017, Rep. Suzan Delbene, a Dem. from Washington State, introduced the State Marijuana and Regulatory Tolerance (SMART) Enforcement Act. The SMART Enforcement Act would amend the Controlled Substances Act, to prohibit federal enforcement of marijuana offenses in a state that: (1) certifies to the DOJ that it has legalized marijuana, (2) demonstrates a regulatory scheme that protects federal interest, like prohibiting distribution to minors, (3) and agrees to conduct studies and prepare reports regarding the legalization of marijuana. SMART would essentially codify some of the basic federal policy guidelines set out by the Cole Memo. Unfortunately, the bill will be staled in committee until at least the beginning of September when Congress returns from a month long paid vacation. If you missed our last article, https://kinnermcgowan.com/cannabis-compliance/dirty-green-dollars/, we discuss some of the other cannabis-themed bills introduced this Congressional session and go into a bit more detail about the Cole Memo.
