Senate Democrats Reintroduce Bill to Legalize Marijuana
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reintroduced a bill to legalize marijuana on the federal level, a move that reflects growing public support for the issue. The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would end the federal prohibition on marijuana, create a new framework for regulating the industry, and expunge certain federal marijuana-related offenses from criminal records.
The bill, which was first introduced in 2022, has 15 co-sponsors, all of whom are Democrats. While the bill is unlikely to pass in an election year and a divided government, it marks a significant shift in the Democratic Party’s stance on the issue.
Schumer, who is the first majority leader to call for federal legalization, argued that the war on drugs has disproportionately affected communities of color and that it is time for Congress to take action. “Over the decades, millions of Americans, most often Americans of color, have had their lives derailed and destroyed by our country’s failed war on drugs,” he said.
The bill has received support from some Republicans, but none have signed on as co-sponsors. Kevin Sabet, a former drug policy adviser, argued that legalization would “commercialize” the marijuana industry and create “Big Tobacco 2.0.”
Despite the opposition, the bill reflects growing support for legalization across the country. A January survey by the Pew Research Center found that 88% of Americans believe marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use. Twenty-four states have legalized small amounts of marijuana for adult recreational use, and 38 states have approved it for medicinal purposes.
Advocates of legalization argue that the issue has significant political potency and could help Democrats win elections. “If anybody was looking at the political tea leaves, they would have to realize that obstructing cannabis policy reform – it is a losing proposition as a politician,” said Morgan Fox, the political director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
The Biden administration has also taken steps to liberalize marijuana policy, including pardoning thousands of people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses and downgrading cannabis on the controlled substances list. However, the administration’s stance on full legalization is unclear.
The reintroduction of the bill comes as the 2024 election approaches, and some Democrats are urging the administration to make legalization a more prominent part of President Biden’s re-election campaign.
