The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States (CARERS) Act

Senators Cory Booker (NJ), Rand Paul (KY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
Medical marijuana is legal in 23 states and the District of Columbia, where lawmakers recognize
medical research showing cannabis can alleviate symptoms of serious conditions, including epileptic
and seizure disorders in children, cancer and glaucoma. Twelve more states have laws regulating
cannabidiol oils. However, medical marijuana remains illegal under federal law, leaving patients and
providers vulnerable to arresteven if they are in compliance with their state laws. As a currently
classified Schedule I drug, federal law restricts medical marijuana research, as well as fair and safe
financial services for medical marijuana-related businesses. Senators Cory Booker (NJ), Rand Paul (KY)
and Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) have introduced a bipartisan bill to recognize that marijuana has accepted
medical use, and that it is the states responsibility to set medical marijuana policy.
Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States (CARERS) Act
(1) Recognize States Responsibility to Set Medical Marijuana Policy & Eliminate Potential
Federal Prosecution
The CARERS Act amends the Controlled Substances Act so that states can set their own medical
marijuana policies. The patients, providers and businesses participating in state medical marijuana
programs will no longer be in violation of federal law and vulnerable to federal prosecution.
(2) Reschedule Marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II, Recognizing Accepted Medical Use
Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule I drug, meaning it does not currently have accepted
medical use in the United States. The CARERS Act moves it to Schedule II, recognizing what
Americans already know: marijuana has a legitimate medical purpose.
(3) Allow States to Import Cannbidiol (CBD), Recognized Treatment for Epilepsy and Seizure
Disorders
The CARERS Act amends the Controlled Substances Act to remove specific strains of CBD oil from
the federal of definition of marijuana. This will allow youth suffering from intractable epilepsy to
gain access to the medicine they need to control their seizures.
(4) Provide Veterans Access
Doctors in Department of Veterans Affairs facilities are currently prohibited prescribing medical
marijuana. The CARERS Act would allow VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana to military
veterans.
(5) Permit Financial Services and Banking for Marijuana Dispensaries
Right now, medical marijuana business is a cash business. The CARERS Act provides a safe harbor
to banks and credit unions, their officers and employees that provide financial services to marijuanarelated businesses that engage in activities pursuant to state law.
(6) Expand Opportunities for Research
The CARERS Act removes unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles for researchers to gain government
approval to undertake important research on marijuana.