Senator Welch has claimed that the federal governemnt should defer to states to decide whether marijuana is legalized. He supports Vermont legalizing marijuana without much thought to the thousands of Americans in states with conservtive legislatures that will likely not ever legalize marijuana on their own. He supports the SAFE Banking Act which will allow cannabis companies to have more access to banks.
Holds office U.S. Senate
H.R.3884 - MORE (Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement) Act of 2019
H.R.712 - VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2019
H.R.1595 - SAFE Banking Act of 2019
Senator Welch tweeted:
A legitimate, legal marijuana business shouldn’t be forced to run entirely on cash. I’m co-sponsoring the #SAFEBankingAct this year so these businesses have access to the banking services they need. (4/28/2023)
Senator Welch said he would legalize marijuana. (9/8/2022)
I favor legalization on a state level, but at the federal level I believe that we should respect the decisions the states make. It’s fully legal in Colorado — I think at the federal level we should respect that and not be threatening federal prosecution.
Also at the federal level, we should pass legislation allowing for medical marijuana. That should be a national policy — I don’t believe that the government should get between a doctor and a patient when it comes to prescribing a medication or something that will alleviate pain, like marijuana or any other substance that is appropriate. So I fundamentally believe that at the federal level we should respect states’ decisions on marijuana, whatever their policy may be. (10/31/18)
"Attorney General Sessions has cast aside a longstanding Republican principle of deference to the states in order to impose his misguided moral judgement on the medical and recreational use of marijuana. States that have legalized marijuana have done so after fully engaging their citizens on the decision and tailoring their laws to meet their unique circumstances. The federal government should defer to the states on this issue and use its limited law enforcement resources elsewhere." (1/4/18)
"The federal government should defer to the states on this issue and use its limited law enforcement resources elsewhere."
(1/4/18)
Email: hello@welchforvermont.com
Web: https://www.welch.senate.gov
Phone: 202-224-4242
SR-124 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510