Amazon Endorses GOP-Backed Legalization Bill

Amazon has endorsed a Republican-led federal cannabis legalization bill, noting that federal prohibition has a negative effect on their workforce.

Full story after the jump.

Amazon has endorsed a Republican-sponsored federal cannabis legalization bill, the New York Post reports.

First introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), the legislation seeks to remove cannabis as a Schedule I narcotic, leaving cannabis policy to the states while imposing a 3% federal sales tax on cannabis transactions which would be spent on law enforcement and help military veteran groups. Under the proposal, cannabis would remain illegal for people under 21.

On Twitter, Amazon wrote that it was “pleased to endorse” Mace’s bill.

“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,” Amazon said via Twitter.

Mace, a freshman House member from South Carolina and a Trump campaign staffer in 2016, said Amazon contacted her after she introduced her bill. She said they indicated “right off the bat” their intention was not to sell cannabis on their platform, but that they were looking at it from a “workers perspective,” noting federal prohibition has an effect on their workforce.

“Every state is different and every state should be able to dictate their cannabis laws,” Mace said to the Post. “This bill would get the federal government out of the way.”

She said that she believes Republicans should have a “seat at the table” as cannabis legalization moves through Congress and she expects some Democrats who have supported cannabis legalization in the past to back the legislation, predicting that Amazon’s endorsement would bring other large corporations like Wal-Mart or FedEx to the negotiations, the Post reports.

“With Amazon coming out in support, we’ll see more businesses doing the same,” the congresswoman said.

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