Lawmakers in the U.S. House introduced a bill last week that would end the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program.
The bill, proposed by Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Justin Amash (R-MI), would prohibit federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies from using federal funds to locate and destroy marijuana cultivation sites.
“As multiple states legalize marijuana across our nation, it is a huge waste of federal resources for the DEA to eradicate marijuana,” said Rep. Lieu. “The federal government should focus its precious resources on other issues and let the states innovate in the cannabis field. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill along with Congressman Amash.”
“Civil asset forfeiture allows innocent people to have their property taken without sufficient due process, and this program encourages civil asset forfeiture by allowing the DEA to use the proceeds of seized property to fund marijuana prohibition enforcement,” stated Rep. Amash. “This is especially troubling given that the federal government should not be expending resources on marijuana prohibition—enforcement is a state-level issue, and an increasing number of states are deciding to back off from prohibition. I’m pleased to introduce this bipartisan bill with Congressman Lieu to stop the use of civil forfeiture proceeds for this element of the federal government’s marijuana enforcement efforts.”
Source:
http://www.thedailychronic.net/2015/46917/bipartisan-bill-to-eliminate-dea-marijuana-eradication-program-introduced-in-congress/
Photo Credit: USFS Region 5
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