Republicans in Colorado proposed SB-37 this week, a bill meant to prevent food stamp recipients from using their EBT cards to purchase marijuana.

Says Colorado State Rep. Jared Wright (R) on the Dori Monson radio show:

We just want to make sure that the money is not being used for an addiction or for purchasing a drug that is, frankly, still illegal under federal law.

Rep. Wright acknowledges that he is unaware of anyone using their government benefits to purchase marijuana so far, but hopes to close the loophole before it becomes a problem.

This is meant to be preventative. We're not responding to a story of any of this actually occurring. Our goal is to make sure that tax dollars are not used. You know, clearly, these entitlement dollars are meant to help the poorest of the poor amongst us who need the dollars just to get by, frankly, to make ends meet...

It is already illegal in Colorado to use EBT cards to purchase alcohol, tobacco and other non-food items, but the current law - passed by citizen initiative in Colorado - failed to anticipate that government benefits might be used to purchase marijuana for recreational use.

According to Colorado.gov:

Households CANNOT buy any nonfood items such as: beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, tobacco, pet foods, soaps, paper products, household supplies, toothpaste, cosmetics, vitamins, medicines, foods that can be eaten in the store and hot foods.