March 10, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1385 (Mr. WICKER) was added as a cosponsor sponsor of S. 627, a bill to require the harmful. Schedule II is the next con- of S. 505, a bill to amend the Internal Secretary of Veterans Affairs to revoke trolled substances category for drugs Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the bonuses paid to employees involved in deemed to have some medical use, such Health Coverage Tax Credit. electronic wait list manipulations, and as cocaine and methamphetamine. The S. 539 for other purposes. view that marijuana has no medical At the request of Mr. CARDIN, the S. 678 use whatsoever, but the methamphet- names of the Senator from Minnesota At the request of Mr. INHOFE, the amine has some medicinal use is trou- (Ms. KLOBUCHAR) and the Senator from name of the Senator from Georgia (Mr. bling and contrary to science. We can do better. New Hampshire (Ms. AYOTTE) were ISAKSON) was added as a cosponsor of S. In 2013, the Department of Justice added as cosponsors of S. 539, a bill to 678, a bill to declare English as the offi- issued guidance to Federal prosecutors amend title XVIII of the Social Secu- cial language of the United States, to and regulators to refrain from pros- rity Act to repeal the Medicare out- establish a uniform English language ecuting individuals that use, purchase patient rehabilitation therapy caps. rule for naturalization, and to avoid or sell marijuana in States where it is S. 546 misconstructions of the English lan- legal as long as a State regulatory At the request of Ms. HEITKAMP, the guage texts of the laws of the United framework exists that maintains cer- name of the Senator from Pennsyl- States, pursuant to Congress’ powers to tain standards, such as a ban on sales vania (Mr. CASEY) was added as a co- provide for the general welfare of the to minors. As a result of this guidance, sponsor of S. 546, a bill to establish the United States and to establish a uni- more and more States have taken steps Railroad Emergency Services Pre- form rule of naturalization under arti- to legalize medical marijuana. paredness, Operational Needs, and cle I, section 8, of the Constitution. Sadly, despite this guidance, the in- Safety Evaluation (RESPONSE) Sub- S. CON. RES. 4 ability of Federal and State law to be committee under the Federal Emer- At the request of Mr. BARRASSO, the on the same page regarding the legal- gency Management Agency’s National name of the Senator from Arkansas ity of medical marijuana has resulted Advisory Council to provide rec- (Mr. BOOZMAN) was added as a cospon- in confusion and uncertainty for State ommendations on emergency responder sor of S. Con. Res. 4, a concurrent reso- regulators and the public about what training and resources relating to haz- lution supporting the Local Radio the law requires. This lack of clarity is ardous materials incidents involving Freedom Act. only part of the problem. Individual railroads, and for other purposes. f users of medical marijuana in States S. 559 with legalized medical marijuana con- STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED At the request of Mr. BURR, the tinue to be targeted by the Drug En- BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS names of the Senator from Pennsyl- forcement Agency. That is unaccept- vania (Mr. TOOMEY), the Senator from able and must change. Individuals who Missouri (Mr. BLUNT) and the Senator By Mr. BOOKER (for himself, use medical marijuana in States where from Kentucky (Mr. PAUL) were added Mrs. GILLIBRAND, and Mr. it is legal should not fear prosecution as cosponsors of S. 559, a bill to pro- PAUL): simply based on prosecutorial discre- hibit the Secretary of Education from S. 683. A bill to extend the principle tion. We can do better. engaging in regulatory overreach with of federalism to State drug policy, pro- I am encouraged that the winds of regard to institutional eligibility vide access to medical marijuana, and change are blowing at the Federal level under title IV of the Higher Education enable research into the medicinal on whether to prosecute medical mari- Act of 1965, and for other purposes. properties of marijuana; to the Com- juana, but confusion remains. While mittee on the Judiciary. the 2013 guidance likely trumps the S. 578 prior two memorandum, what message Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, I wish At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the do these documents send? Is medical to introduce the Compassionate Ac- name of the Senator from Iowa (Mr. marijuana legal or not? Is it right that cess, Research Expansion, and Respect GRASSLEY) was added as a cosponsor of the law can be changed at a moment’s States Act CARERS Act. This com- S. 578, a bill to amend title XVIII of the notice by an unelected Federal pros- monsense legislation would make our Social Security Act to ensure more ecutor? And what protection does Federal marijuana criminal laws fairer timely access to home health services State law afford medical marijuana and more in line with our values and for Medicare beneficiaries under the users when State and Federal law col- ensure that medical marijuana is more Medicare program. lide, especially when marijuana is clas- accessible to the millions of Americans S. 582 sified by the Federal Government as a who need it for treatment purposes. I At the request of Mr. WICKER, the schedule I drug? This legislation brings name of the Senator from Alaska (Mr. thank Senator KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND certainty and uniformity to these and Senator RAND PAUL for joining me SULLIVAN) was added as a cosponsor of issues. S. 582, a bill to prohibit taxpayer fund- on this bill, and I appreciate their hard Another problem with current law is ed abortions. work on this legislation. that medical marijuana operates large- The CARERS Act would clarify how S. 591 ly in the shadows because financial in- the Federal Government handles med- At the request of Mr. BLUNT, the stitutions are scared to do business ical marijuana in the States. Cur- with legitimate marijuana businesses. name of the Senator from Mississippi rently, 23 States and the District of Co- (Mr. WICKER) was added as a cosponsor Banks and other financial institutions lumbia have passed laws legalizing are hesitant to do business with legiti- of S. 591, a bill to amend the Internal medical marijuana for qualified pa- Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently mate marijuana businesses because tients. But the Federal Government they are concerned about losing their extend the new markets tax credit, and still bans medical marijuana and treats for other purposes. Federal depository insurance or facing the people who use it with contempt. It Federal prosecution. As a result, the S. 615 is time we end this backward approach medical marijuana industry operates At the request of Mr. CORKER, the toward a substance that helps treat largely as a cash business which is bad names of the Senator from Colorado millions of Americans, including vet- for the economy and endangers public (Mr. BENNET) and the Senator from erans, who suffer from debilitating dis- safety. Dealing with high quantities of South Dakota (Mr. ROUNDS) were added eases. cash and having to transport it leaves as cosponsors of S. 615, a bill to provide Today, the Federal Government clas- these businesses and their operatives for congressional review and oversight sifies marijuana as a schedule I drug, as easy targets for criminals. of agreements relating to Iran’s nu- meaning it lacks a recognized medical The current medical marijuana situa- clear program, and for other purposes. value and it has a high potential for tion in America is untenable. It is un- S. 627 abuse. Incredibly, marijuana shares the fair for the Americans that operate le- At the request of Ms. AYOTTE, the same classification with such drugs as gitimate marijuana businesses. It is name of the Senator from Pennsyl- heroin or LSD-substances that no one unfair to people with disabilities, in- vania (Mr. TOOMEY) was added as a co- disputes are incredibly dangerous and cluding veterans with post-traumatic VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:03 Mar 11, 2015 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10MR6.019 S10MRPT1 emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with SENATE S1386 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2015 stress, traumatic brain injury or miss- The bill would also allow States to to the payrolls. The policy behind the ing limbs who rely on medical mari- import CBD. CBD is an oil substance EITC is one I and many of my col- juana for treatment. It is unfair to made from a marijuana plant that con- leagues support as it is intended to fos- children with intractable epilepsy who tains virtually no THC-meaning you ter betterment and personal responsi- need cannabidiol-known as CBD-to con- experience no high from the drug. CBD bility by giving those on the lowest trol their seizures. is the medicine Jackson needs-along rungs of the labor pool an extra incen- This issue has a real impact on the with thousands of other individuals tive to jump in and stay in the work- lives of ordinary Americans. Recently, with Dravet syndrome-to control his force rather than rely on welfare pro- my staff met with Jennie Stormes, a seizures. We must make this important grams. woman recently forced to leave my drug more available so people can ac- It does this by providing a tax benefit home State of New Jersey because of cess the medication they need. to low-income individuals based on the our restrictive medical marijuana The bill would create a safe harbor amount of earned income they have.