In a letter from Republican Sen. Thom Tills to North Carolina attorney Rod Kight, who works with cannabis companies, Tills suggested that cannabis legalization “will likely be discussed this Congress.” The letter from the Senate Judiciary Committee member was obtained by Business Insider.
According to the report, the letter to Tills was to urge him to support the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017 and the Marijuana Justice Act which would both effectively legalize cannabis federally.
“Proposals to legalize marijuana should not be taken lightly. I understand that many individuals believe marijuana use is benign. The fact remains, however, that marijuana use can result in adverse health consequences, particularly among adolescents. It goes without saying that a product which has adverse psychological and physiological impacts on its user can ultimately harm third parties. For me, it is crucial that we continue to educate ourselves on all the short-term and long-term consequences of marijuana use before we consider unrestricted legalization of the drug. It is my goal to pursue policies that protect our nation’s youth from the dangerous consequences of illegal drug use and help produce productive and responsible members of society.” – Tills in the letter to Kight
Tills is a co-sponsor of the MEDS Act which would encourage cannabis research on a federal level.