Marijuana: Mike Coffman, Amendment 64 opponent, to back federal exemption bill
Update below: Representative Mike Coffman, a Republican, is announcing today his support of legislation that would exempt Colorado from federal marijuana policy. It's a noteworthy move from Coffman, who is against the legalization of marijuana but respects Colorado's ballot process and the support Amendment 64 received last week, when voters chose to legalize small amounts of pot for adult use. 
As we noted earlier this week, Democratic representatives Diana DeGette, Ed Perlmutter and Jared Polis have been drafting legislation that would make Colorado exempt from policies at the federal level, at which marijuana remains illegal.
Since Amendment 64 passed, state officials have already been in conversation with the federal government about how to deal with this complicated discrepancy. 
Mike Coffman
DeGette's office is expected to introduce the legislation today; it would exempt Colorado from the federal Controlled Substances Act.
Coffman, who was reelected to represent Colorado's sixth congressional district, says he supports the voters' choice.
In a press release announcing the bipartisan support the bill has now received -- expected to be sent out later today -- Coffman's statement, passed along to us by his office, says, "I voted against Amendment 64 and I strongly oppose the legalization of marijuana, but I also have an obligation to respect the will of the voters given the passage of this initiative, and so I feel obligated to support this legislation."
Update, November 16, 1:15 p.m: This afternoon, Congresswoman Diana DeGette's office released official details on the legislation to which Mike Coffman has signed on. It's called the "Respect States' and Citizens' Rights Act," and it would ensure that state laws regarding marijuana will not be preempted by the federal government. 
Diana DeGette.
And Coffman isn't the only newly elected or reelected official to offer support -- though, in the latest press release, he remains the sole Republican listed. In addition to expected backing from Colorado Representative Jared Polis, Oregon's Earl Blumenauer, Tennessee's Steve Cohen and California's Sam Farr are also co-sponsoring the measure, which was introduced today.
The bill, DeGette's office says, is designed to address concerns about the federal government's ability to override the voter-approved initiatives in Colorado and Washington state, which also passed a marijuana measure last week. In addition, the legislation would provide guidance for the courts, DeGette says.
"Today, I am proud to join with colleagues from both sides of the aisle on the 'Respect States' and Citizens' Rights Act' to protect states' rights and immediately resolve any conflict with the federal government," DeGette says in a statement. "In Colorado we've witnessed the aggressive policies of the federal government in their treatment of legal medicinal marijuana providers. My constituents have spoken and I don't want the federal government denying money to Colorado or taking other punitive steps that would undermine the will of our citizens."
The bill, on full view below, functions as an amendment to the Controlled Substances Act, declaring that state law would not be preempted by the CSA.
Continue for the full press release and for the official bill.
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