President Donald Trump’s order to complete the process of federally rescheduling marijuana could move the needle to enact cannabis reform in West Virginia, a top Republican lawmaker says.
With proposals to legalize or decriminalize marijuana again on the table in both chambers this session, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R) signaled that there may be some bipartisan support for the legislation. He noted that “we’ve had members of the Republican party” file adult-use legalization bills similar to one that’s being sponsored by Del. Evan Hansen (D).
While there may be “philosophical reasons” that certain members of the caucus oppose legalization, Trump’s recent executive order on expeditiously moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) could grease the wheels by giving them political cover, Hanshaw told The Herald-Dispatch.
Hansen’s proposal, which is pending action before the House Judiciary Committee, would create a system of regulated adult-use cannabis sales. The legislator has previously sponsored similar legislation, but the reform has yet to be enacted.
To what extent federal rescheduling could result in different outcome this session is yet to be seen. Moving marijuana to Schedule III wouldn’t federally legalize it, but lawmakers in several states have indicated
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