One of the largest companies in the world is backing a Republican-led effort to federally legalize and tax cannabis in the U.S.
On Tuesday, Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) endorsed Rep. Nancy Mace’s States Reform Act, again showing off its support for reforming the country’s pot laws.
“Like so many in this country, we believe it’s time to reform the nation’s cannabis policy and Amazon is committed to helping lead the effort,” says Brian Huseman, Amazon’s vice president of public policy.
“We’ve made changes to our business, and we support the MORE Act, as well as the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity (COA) Act,” he explains in a statement.
“We are encouraged by the introduction of the States Reform Act, championed by Representative Mace. This bill offers comprehensive reform that speaks to the emergence of a bipartisan consensus to end the federal prohibition of cannabis.”
Read more: Republican bill seeks to federally legalize and tax cannabis
Mace presented the legislation in November, calling the proposal a “compromise bill” that ties in elements from Republican and Democrat filings.
If passed, cannabis would be regulated by federal agencies, similar to alcohol, with a 3-per-cent excise tax and restrictions on advertising. The bill would ensure that state cannabis programs are protected under federal law.
Rep. Nancy Mace presented the States Reform Act, calling it a ‘compromise bill.’ Image via YouTube
Similar to some state-level weed bills, the States Reform Act would expunge non-violent cannabis charges.
Small businesses would be protected and local businesses would be promoted under the proposal. Mace has said that if the bill were to pass, there wouldn’t be a need for the SAFE Banking Act, which hasn’t been able to clear the Senate despite several attempts.
Read more: Amazon welcomes back workers fired or deferred for using cannabis
Read more: Amazon registers to lobby on cannabis reform
Amazon began championing cannabis reform last summer. It’s since registered to lobby for those issues, while ending its policy of drug screening for cannabis.
Advocates have urged other employers to follow Amazon’s lead of dropping employee testing.
In September, Amazon’s Huseman sent a letter to the senators who proposed the COA Act, saying it was an important change that could provide economic opportunities and start to repair the harm done by prohibition.
Huseman also wrote in support of Congress acting to erase non-violent cannabis charges and allow for resentencing.
An Amazon spokesperson confirms with Mugglehead the company has “no plans to grow, sell, or distribute cannabis products in our marketplace” at this time.
Read more: Biden hasn’t fulfilled cannabis promises, most Americans don’t think he will
Follow Kathryn Tindale on Twitter
kathryn@mugglehead.com
