Congressional Committee to Investigate Chinese Involvement in US Marijuana Operations
A House Homeland Security subcommittee has scheduled a hearing to examine the alleged involvement of Chinese criminal organizations in the US marijuana industry. The hearing, titled “Invasion of the Homeland: How China is Using Illegal Marijuana to Build a Criminal Network Across America,” is set to take place on September 18.
The subcommittee’s investigation is focused on illicit marijuana grows associated with China, which has been a growing concern for some lawmakers. In a recent report, members of Congress directed federal agencies to investigate these grows and look into any connections to Chinese transnational criminal organizations and the government of China.
Several Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Susan Collins, have previously raised concerns about Chinese-linked cannabis grow houses in their states. The prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana has also argued that legalizing marijuana would empower Chinese cartels.
The hearing comes at a critical time for federal marijuana policy, as the president is expected to make a decision soon on a proposal to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. The House Appropriations Committee has also passed a spending bill that would block the Justice Department from rescheduling marijuana.
The exact scope and intent of the hearing, as well as the witnesses who will testify, are currently unknown. However, the investigation is likely to shed light on the extent of Chinese involvement in the US marijuana industry and the potential risks and consequences of this activity.
