The Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) has been backed by some political and activist heavyweights and it got announced a big endorsement today from California Congressman Ted Lieu, who represents the 33rd congressional district out of Los Angeles County. Representative Lieu isn’t new to cannabis activism, as he has previously led a bipartisan effort to decrease funding for the DEA’s eradication of marijuana plants. The California representative is joining the growing list of bipartisan legislators in Congress working to reform our nation’s marijuana laws for the better.

The AUMA, backed by California political powerhouses like Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, Napster founder Sean Parker and the California Medical Association, is definitely compiling mainstream political support needed to win at the ballot box this November. Throw in Drug Policy Action, the Marijuana Policy Project of California, and NORML and the legalization effort also has the support of major activist organizations as well.

The effort to legalize marijuana across the nation is clearly picking up steam and all eyes will be on California this November, one of the top economies in the world. Adding California to the list of states with legal cannabis will add many more legislators fighting for legalization, or at least states’ rights, in Congress.

Here’s the press release announcing the endorsement of Congressman Lieu by the Let’s Get It Right California campaign:

CA’S ADULT USE OF MARIJUANA ACT ENDORSED BY RESPECTED CONGRESSMAN, MILITARY VETERAN TED LIEU

AUMA is “fiscally responsible, smartly builds on what California has already done” & “provides necessary protections for children, workers, local governments, law enforcement and the environment”

TORRANCE, CA—Today, respected congressman and military veteran U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) announced his support for the statewide ballot measure known as the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA).

The son of Taiwanese immigrants, Lieu has won awards as a military prosecutor, an advisor to U.S. Air Force commanders and as a law student and private attorney.

As a congressman, he serves on the House Budget and Oversight Committees.

Last year, he introduced bipartisan legislation to save taxpayer dollars by blocking the Drug Enforcement Administration from financing its Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Program through civil asset forfeitures.

“I’ve reviewed the Adult Use of Marijuana Act and believe it creates a legal, responsible and regulated framework for adult use of marijuana that is fiscally responsible, smartly builds on what California has already done with medical marijuana and provides necessary protections for children, workers, local governments, law enforcement agencies and the environment,” said Lieu.

“As a policy, marijuana prohibition has wasted taxpayer resources while failing to protect our communities,” he continued.  “The Adult Use of Marijuana Act represents a vastly superior and long overdue new approach.”

Lieu joins California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and a rapidly-growing and diverse coalition, including physicians, environmental leaders, business owners, small farmers, civil right groups and social justice advocates, in support of California’s consensus ballot measure to regulate adult use of marijuana.

His endorsement comes on the heels of a recent report by the respected Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) which outlined the importance of AUMA’s key provisions, drawing lessons from Washington and Colorado and including maximum regulatory flexibility, strong data collection, reporting and oversight, unprecedented safeguards for children and a restrictive regulatory structure.

The Adult Use of Marijuana Act is a consensus measure based on recognized best practices and recommendations from hundreds of engaged citizens and organizations.  It includes strong safeguards for children, workers, local governments and small businesses and strict anti-monopoly provisions and the toughest warning label and marketing-to-kids laws in the nation.

It also closely adheres to the Lieutenant Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy and the new medical marijuana laws recently passed by a bipartisan majority of the Legislature and signed by Governor Brown (SB 643, AB 266 and AB 243).

AUMA has been endorsed by the California Council of Land Trusts, Drug Policy Alliance, Marijuana Policy Project, California Cannabis Industry Association, California Medical Association and California NAACP, and national NORML, among others.

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