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April 4, 2017
The Honorable John Culberson The Honorable 036: Serrano
Chairman, Subcommittee on CJ Ranking Member, Subcommittee on CJ 
US House of Representatives US. House of Representatives
H-301 The Capitol 1016 Longworth House Of?ce Building
Washington, DC. 20515 Washington, DC. 20515

Dear Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Serrano:

As you prepare the ?scal year 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
appropriations bill, we respectfully request that you include language barring the Department of Justice
from prosecuting those who comply with their state?s medical marijuana laws. We believe such a
policy is not only consistent with the wishes of a bipartisan majority of the members of the House, but
also with the wishes of the American people.

Since 2014, the House of Representatives has consistently supported such language??rst by a
vote of 219-189 in 2014, and most recently by a vote of 242-186 in 2015. Since 2015, the Senate
Committee on Appropriations has consistently supported identical language??rst by a vote of 22-8 in
2015, and most recently by a vote of 21-8 in 2016. We believe that the consistent, bipartisan support
for such protections against federal enforcement, combined with the fact that similar language has been
in place since December 2014, make a strong case for including similar language in your base FY 2018
appropriations bill.

Because of parliamentary restrictions on what may be offered as a ?oor amendment to
appropriations bills, the amendment has historically been narrowly structured. To provide the
Department of Justice, states, and the residents of those states additional clarity and stability, we
request that you include modi?ed language that reads as follows: None of the funds made
available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used to enforce federal prohibitions involving
the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes that are permitted
by the laws of the state, the District of Columbia, or US. territory where the act was committed, or to
prevent states, the District of Columbia, or US. territories from implementing their own laws that
permit the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes.

In closing, we reiterate our support for the inclusion of this limitation on the Department of
Justice. We appreciate the dif?cult task before you and appreciate your consideration of our request.

Sincerely,

Dam Mew

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