The bipartisan caucus was founded by Republicans Dana Rohrabacher and Don Young and Democrats Earl Blumenauer and Jared Polis.

[4] In 2016, Blumenauer and Rohrabacher agreed to form a congressional caucus to streamline cannabis reform legislation at the federal level, considering it a states' rights issue.

[5] In February 2017, Rohrabacher and Blumenauer launched the caucus with Jared Polis, a Democrat from Colorado, and Don Young, a Republican from Alaska.

[10][11] After Don Young died in office in 2022, he was replaced by Brian Mast of Florida.

[12] In January 2025, it was announced that Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) would serve as Caucus co-chairs, replacing Reps. Blumenauer and Lee.