The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Political Action Committee announced its support and endorsement of Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard for her efforts to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level and her advocacy for criminal justice reform.

“There was more momentum behind federal marijuana law reform in 2018 than in any previous year, and that is in no small part due to some of our longstanding, outspoken allies in Congress. We are happy to endorse Representative Tulsi Gabbard, the lead sponsor of the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, which would end the failed national policy of cannabis prohibition. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is never afraid to speak truth to power and has been one of the most sensible voices in the Congress on improving public policy,” said Erik Altieri, NORML PAC Executive Director.

Congresswoman Gabbard said:

“For decades, bad data and misinformation have fueled the failed ‘War on Drugs’ that has ruined people’s lives, torn families apart, and wasted billions of taxpayer dollars incarcerating Americans for nonviolent marijuana charges. In 2016 alone, nearly 600,000 people were arrested for marijuana possession. Our laws must be informed by facts—not emotion, manufactured stigma, and myths. Earlier this year, Attorney General Jeff Sessions put every state with policies of legalized medical and non-medical marijuana on high alert, placing millions at risk of arrest and federal prosecution even though they are abiding by the laws of their states. This hurts so many—like veterans suffering from invisible wounds such as Post-Traumatic Stress, chronic pain, or addiction to opioids, and children with epilepsy, cancer, and other serious and chronic conditions. We must end the federal marijuana prohibition, provide relief to the millions of people and families who have been dragged into our broken criminal justice system, and prevent lives from needless ruin in the future.”

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Rep. Gabbard is the lead Democratic sponsor of the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, which would take marijuana off the federal controlled substances list. She introduced the Marijuana Data Collection Act, which lays the groundwork for real reform by producing an objective, evidence-based report on current state marijuana laws.

Rep. Gabbard has called for closing the gaps between federal and state law to resolve current contradictions and provide legally abiding marijuana businesses with clear access to financial services. She also co-sponsored the Marijuana Justice Act to reform unjust federal marijuana laws and empower minority communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the failed War on Drugs, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act to allow equal banking access and financial services for marijuana-related businesses, and the RESPECT Resolution to encourage equity in the marijuana industry.

Just last week, Congress rejected bipartisan, Gabbard-backed language known as the Veterans Equal Access Amendment that would have lifted a prohibition on VA physicians recommending medical marijuana prescriptions in states where it is legal.

Rep. Gabbard is a Democrat who has served as the US Representative for Hawaiʻi’s Second Congressional District since 2013, representing rural Oʻahu and all of the neighbor islands. She is running for re-election to continue serving a fourth term in Congress.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She is a Major in the Hawaiʻi Army National Guard and has served on two Middle East deployments.

NORML PAC is the political arm of NORML—an organization dedicated to informing voters and elected officials about marijuana laws, to move public opinion to legalize the “responsible use of marijuana” by adults, and to serve as an advocate for consumers to ensure they have access to high quality marijuana that is safe, convenient, and affordable.