Sheila Jackson Lee: “Let me indicate that this legislation does not take away any of the responsibilities of the Department of Transportation…”

“Let me indicate that this legislation does not take away any of the responsibilities of the Department of Transportation in its regulatory authority, and the facts belie any worries regarding road safety. According to a 2018 study of the National Bureau of Economic Research, States that have legalized marijuana have not experienced significantly different rates of marijuana- or alcohol-related traffic fatalities. All of the State laws dealing with driving under the influence remain. Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana is still illegal in every State--we insist on that--and even in these States that have legalized the substance, and the MORE Act leaves these in place. Mr. Speaker, we need to talk about the many deaths that have occurred because of the violence over illegal marijuana. I have seen it. We have seen it. We have lost lives in their future, and we have lost them to their families. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Correa), a member of the Committee on the Judiciary.”