U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) are urging the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) not to cut off its services to state-legal cannabis businesses in Mississippi.
“We write to express deep concern with the recent statement issued by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on February 2, 2022, detailing plans to have the agency deputize its employees to attempt to enforce outdated and scientifically baseless federal cannabis policies against state-legal cannabis businesses. We urge a swift recission of the TVA’s February 2 statement and a commitment by the agency to abide by congressional intent in refraining from impeding states in the implementation of medical cannabis programs,” the lawmakers wrote TVA Board Chair William Kilbride.
TVA is a federally owned electrical utility.
“Last month, Mississippi joined 36 other states in legalizing cannabis for medicinal use, a big step forward for the health and well-being of Mississippians. But TVA is blatantly ignoring that development by threatening to turn in legal cannabis businesses in Mississippi to federal agents. These policies are outdated, unpopular, and scientifically baseless,” the lawmakers wrote to
Blumenauer is the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, while Cohen is a member of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.
“TVA would also be sadly out of step with the American people, even after polls and elections are showing again and again how voters react when given the choice to weigh in on access to cannabis. From ballot measures to state legislatures, states are continuing to create state legal markets, while the federal government has failed to modernize its policies. This is a time to provide clarity to TVA and is a golden opportunity to right-size federal cannabis policy,” the lawmakers continued.
Blumenauer and Cohen support legislation to end the federal prohibition of cannabis and ensure restorative justice for those impacted by it.