logo

Bipartisan Duo Seeks to Cut Lifeblood of DEA's Cannabis Eradication Program

image
Author: 420 Times
Created: 28 September, 2015
Updated: 18 October, 2022
1 min read

A pair of U.S. congressmen are seeking to cut off funding for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s "Domestic Cannabis Eradication / Suppression Program."

The program is funded through controversial asset forfeitures, where agents who suspect you’re in the drug business take your home and car without due process.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu of the L.A. area and Republican U.S. Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan have paired up for the "Stop Civil Asset Forfeiture Funding for Marijuana Suppression Act," which they recently introduced in the lower house.

The duo says the DEA spent $18 million on the program last year in order to arrest 6,310 people.

"As multiple states legalize marijuana across our nation, it is a huge waste of federal resources for the DEA to eradicate marijuana," said Lieu. "The federal government should focus its precious resources on other issues and let the states innovate in the cannabis field."

The bill would cut off the lifeblood of the program -- it’s funding. The legislation is supported by the Marijuana Policy Project and by the Drug Policy Alliance.

"Rep. Lieu has shown leadership on the cannabis eradication issue since championing an amendment earlier this year to slash funding to the program, and Rep. Amash is a tireless opponent of the type of wasteful spending that the DEA symbolizes," said Michael Collins, Policy Manager at Drug Policy Alliance’s Office of National Affairs.

Editor's note: This article originally published on The 420 Times, and has been modified slightly for publication on IVN.

Latest articles

criwd
US Voters, Activists Set to Rally for Open Primaries Ahead of Historic Elections
The 2024 election cycle is already a historic year for election reform. Six states plus the District of Columbia have measures on the November 5 ballot that, if approved by voters, will open taxpayer-funded primary elections to voters outside the Republican and Democratic Parties....
03 October, 2024
-
5 min read
political parties
Liz Cheney Thinks a Third Party Might be Needed. Do Americans Want One?
At a forum in Minneapolis last week, former representative of Wyoming, Liz Cheney, stated it might be necessary to form a new party for conservatives unhappy with the GOP’s shift towards Trumpism and the MAGA movement. ...
03 October, 2024
-
7 min read
Idaho Capitol Building
Idaho Lawmakers Threaten to Repeal Prop 1 If Voters Pass It
Idaho Republican lawmakers have indicated that because they don't like election reforms in Proposition 1, they will consider repealing or amending the proposal if voters approve it in November. ...
02 October, 2024
-
2 min read