California Representatives Propose Bill in Support of Marijuana Justice Act

In January 2018, California representatives put forth a countermeasure to protect states with legal medical and recreational marijuana. Representatives Barbara Lee and Ro Khanna introduced resolution HR 4779 to the House of Representatives. The measure closely mirrored Senator Cory Booker’s Marijuana Justice Act.

Uncertainty had loomed large after Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo earlier that month. The bill aimed to protect states with legal marijuana from prosecution. In addition, it would have removed marijuana from the list of federally controlled substances.

Protection from Department of Justice

Representative Lee notes that this bill is intended to “prevent the Attorney General and others in the Trump Administration from stifling the budding cannabis industry. If the federal government chooses to interfere in these state matters, it’s up to Congress to prevent this harmful overreach.”

The House version of the Marijuana Justice Act, also known as the REFER Bill has made headway receiving 17 co-sponsors. As politicians on Capitol Hill pushed the measure forward, support grew. More states with legal medical and recreational cannabis were expected to join in.

“The federal government should respect the will of the voters in states that have voted to decriminalize cannabis,” cites Congresswoman Lee, “It’s time to stop wasting taxpayer money on the failed War on Drugs.”

Financial Services Provision

The new proposal ups the antey on the Marijuana Justice Act offering financial institutions protection from the Department of Justice. This would be a major game changer for the cannabis industry and allow marijuana retailers, distributors, and manufacturers access to banking services that have been previously denied. If passed the bill will prevent the DOJ from interfering with banks ‘solely because the institution provides financial services’ to marijuana businesses.

As former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Barbara Lee’s latest cannabis initiative aims to end the racial disparities in marijuana arrests and incarcerations. She remains committed to protecting State’s rights and firmly believes the “democratic movement can be stopped at all now.”

Cannabis businesses could do their part as well. Specifically, they could contact politicians on both sides of the aisle. The goal was to voice support for the Marijuana Justice Act and the REFER Bill. At the time, reform seemed to be on the horizon. The cannabis industry was projected to generate $40 billion in sales. Therefore, supporters believed new legislation would have the funding to advance.

Editor’s update (2026)

The Marijuana Justice Act and the companion House resolution never became federal law. As a result, cannabis remained a Schedule I substance at the federal level through this period. Reform efforts since then have centered on incremental measures. These include banking access, a proposed rescheduling review, and state-by-state legalization, rather than full federal descheduling. California operators are still regulated by the Department of Cannabis Control. Moreover, a compliant cannabis POS system for California dispensaries remains the practical way to navigate the state’s evolving rules. See our overview of cannabis POS software for California dispensaries for current options.