[ad_1]
In the wake of New York State’s legalization of marijuana on Wednesday, Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer said his bill to end the federal ban would arrive soon.
“I support decriminalization at the federal level and I will soon be presenting a bill with some of my colleagues”, Schumer told reporters Wednesday.
When asked if he was talking about legalization, the New York Democrat replied, “At the federal level you call it decriminalization because it allows states to legalize.”
STATE POT ROLLOUTS LAG AMID COURT CHALLENGES, LEGISLATIVE FIGHT
But the proposal goes beyond decriminalization, according to a video released by senators.
The bill is still being worked out by meaning. Schumer; Ron Wyden, D-Ore .; and Corey Booker, DN.J. They said it will remove cannabis from the federally controlled substances list, clear criminal records for marijuana-related offenses, and introduce taxes and regulations for drugs.
“This is restorative justice. It’s not a problem of the past,” Booker said. “In 2019, there were more marijuana arrests, and most of them – over 90% – for possession only, more such arrests than all violent crime arrests combined. It’s not a war on drugs, it’s a war against people and certain people “
Passing the bill will be an uphill battle, as it’s not clear there are 10 Republicans on board to end the marijuana ban.
Asked Wednesday if the president could support the next bill, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Biden’s position had not changed and that he supported “decriminalization.”
New York became the 16th state to legalize cannabis this week, and New Mexico is expected to do so soon.
DETROIT RESTAURANT SAYS CUSTOMERS WHO FEEL MARIJUANA ARE NOT WELCOME
The November election was a huge success for supporters of legal marijuana, with five states passing voting initiatives to legalize cannabis in recreational or medical forms – or both in South Dakota’s case.
But rolling out the states’ new weed legal frameworks has been difficult, with legal challenges and legislative wrangling at times threatening to delay voter-supported programs.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The pushback is greatest in South Dakota and Mississippi, where opponents have filed court challenges claiming the voting initiatives were not in line with state constitutions. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem supported the challenges of legalization.
[ad_2]
Source link