[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 66 (Thursday, April 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE MARIJUANA IN FEDERALLY ASSISTED HOUSING PARITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 2019

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the Marijuana in 
Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act. My bill would permit the use of 
marijuana in federally assisted housing, including public housing and 
Section 8 housing, in compliance with the marijuana laws of the state 
where the property is located.
  Individuals living in federally assisted housing should not be denied 
admission, or fear eviction, for using a legal product. Adult use and/
or medical marijuana is currently legal in 33 states and the District 
of Columbia, and over 90 percent of Americans support legalized medical 
marijuana. Under current federal law, the users of drugs that are 
illegal under federal law, including marijuana, are prohibited from 
being admitted into federally assisted housing. Moreover, federal law 
allows landlords to evict residents of federally assisted housing for 
drug use. Even the Food and Drug Administration has recently supported 
approving certain medication made from cannabis, including Eipdiolex, 
which would be administered as a syrup. Eipdiolex is used to treat 
children who suffer from seizures. Notably, the drug does not contain 
tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis.
  For the last several years, Congress has prohibited the Department of 
Justice (DOJ) from using federal funds to prevent jurisdictions from 
implementing their medical marijuana laws. This bill would similarly 
allow individuals to use marijuana in federally assisted housing in 
compliance with the state's marijuana laws.
  Under my bill, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 
must also develop regulations that restrict smoking marijuana in 
federally assisted housing in the same manner and to the same locations 
as the Secretary restricts smoking tobacco in federally assisted public 
housing.
  HUD, like DOJ, should not be allowed to enforce federal marijuana 
laws where states have taken action to legalize marijuana. The 
Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act states that a person 
may not be denied federally assisted housing based on the use of 
marijuana in compliance with the marijuana laws of the state where the 
property is located.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

                          ____________________