Amazon has endorsed a Republican-backed invoice in Congress on Tuesday that might legalize marijuana on a federal stage, leaving states to determine whether or not to ban or regulate it.
Rep. Nancy Mace’s (R-SC) States Reform Act would take away hashish as a federal Schedule I substance and introduce a brand new 3% federal tax on the substance.
Income from the tax can be routed assist fund legislation enforcement and veterans’ well being packages — and hashish would stay unlawful nationwide for anybody beneath 21 apart from medical marijuana sufferers.
“Each state is completely different and each state ought to have the ability to dictate their hashish legal guidelines,” Mace informed The Publish in an interview. “This invoice would get the federal authorities out of the way in which.”
In a tweet on Tuesday, Amazon’s public coverage arm mentioned it was “happy to endorse” Mace’s proposal.
“Like so many on this nation, we consider it’s time to reform the nation’s hashish coverage and Amazon is dedicated to serving to lead the hassle,” the corporate mentioned.
Mace, a freshman Congresswoman who beforehand labored for Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential marketing campaign, informed The Publish that she was approached by Amazon representatives after she launched the invoice.
She mentioned the corporate was motivated to endorse her invoice as a result of authorized points round marijuana could make hiring tough.
“They’re taking a look at it from a employees perspective,” Mace mentioned in an interview. “The prohibitions on the federal stage actually do have an effect on their workforce.”
Amazon informed Mace that it’s not eager about promoting marijuana on its web site, in response to the Congresswoman.
“That isn’t their objective, not their intention,” Mace mentioned of the prospect of Amazon pushing pot. “They mentioned that proper off the bat.”
In June, Amazon stopped testing many job applicants for marijuana and mentioned that it might help efforts to legalize the drug.
Mace expects Democrats, lots of whom have supported weed legalization for years, to come back out in help of her invoice. She argued that Republicans are additionally more likely to help her invoice as a result of it provides extra energy to states — and since weed legalization is extraordinarily fashionable nationwide.
“Even in my very crimson state of South Carolina, statewide, medical hashish is at an approval ranking of 70%,” she mentioned. “If we’re going to do hashish reform on the federal stage, Republicans have to have a seat on the desk.”
Mace mentioned she hadn’t spoken to representatives from different giant US companies like Walmart or FedEx concerning the invoice, however that she expects Amazon’s endorsement to push different firms alongside.
“With Amazon popping out in help, we’ll see extra companies doing the identical,” Mace mentioned.
The invoice has 4 Republican co-sponsors, Reps. Don Younger of Arkansas, Brian Mast of Florida, Tom McClintock of California and Peter Meijer of Michigan.
Amazon didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
