As the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina prepare to vote on legalizing adult-use cannabis, U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R) is threatening to defund the tribe — whether the measure passes or not. The tribe's Principal Chief Richard Sneed is calling the Republican congressman’s move “a major political blunder.”
What Happened
Late Friday, Edwards introduced what he’s calling the Stop Pot Act – a bill that calls for withholding 10% of federal highway funds from areas that violate federal law under the Controlled Substances Act, which prohibits recreational marijuana and classifies it as a Schedule I drug. Although, this week the HHS called on the DEA to undertake the process of removing cannabis from that classification.
In …