Federal Cannabis Reform Deserves Better Than Political Theater (Op-Ed)

“Opposing everything that is not your version of perfect is not just hopeless—it is counterproductive. Let’s not let perfect be the enemy of progress.”

By Shanita Penny, Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education and Regulation (CPEAR) & Forbes Tate Partners

Earlier this month, CPEAR released national polling that confirmed what we’ve long known: Americans overwhelmingly support ending federal cannabis prohibition. That support spans regions, parties, and age groups.

In fact, 70 percent of registered voters back federal reform—and 61 percent support the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) 2.0 Act, a bipartisan proposal that respects state decision-making while addressing urgent public safety and regulatory concerns.

Americans, both for and against cannabis, realize that the status quo does not work, and this undisputed fact is the entire reason for the existence of CPEAR: We engage in the hope that we can advance comprehensive federal reform.

Some have questioned our poll and the policy it highlights. That’s fair—debate is healthy. But it’s important to ground that conversation in facts, not conjecture.

Our polling was conducted among a representative sample of more than 2,000 registered voters across the country. It captured a broad swath of political ideologies, races and geographies. It found that voters want the federal government to get out of the way and let states decide how to regulate cannabis—something 40 states and D.C. have already done in some form.

Our findings are consistent with broader national trends showing strong support for a states’ rights approach. Not every state is going to walk the same path, and federal reform should respect that. Voters also support key components of STATES 2.0: keeping cannabis out of the hands of youth, enhancing law enforcement tools for impaired driving, cracking down on cartel activity and enabling badly needed research.

STATES 2.0 isn’t about corporate interests or consolidation—it’s about reality. It’s about aligning federal law with what’s already happening on the ground in the vast majority of states, while providing a framework to support existing cannabis businesses and better protect public health and safety. It establishes the very much needed foundation to move federal cannabis policy forward.

We understand that no piece of legislation will satisfy every stakeholder. But we should all agree on this: The status quo—an outdated federal prohibition that stifles small businesses, impedes research and leaves millions in legal limbo—is not sustainable.

At CPEAR, we’re proud to support STATES 2.0 because it offers a pragmatic, incremental step toward more fair, transparent and effective cannabis policy. We welcome continued dialogue on how to strengthen this approach, especially for communities disproportionately impacted by past enforcement. But we also believe in listening to the voters—and they’re telling us it’s time for Congress to act.

Opposing everything that is not your version of perfect is not just hopeless—it is counterproductive. Let’s not let perfect be the enemy of progress. Let’s move forward.

Shanita Penny is the executive director of the Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education and Regulation (CPEAR) and a senior vice president at the lobbying firm Forbes Tate Partners.