Democrats Introduce New Legislation To Legalize Marijuana

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York is spearheading the latest effort to make marijuana legal at the federal level. He introduced new legislation on Wednesday that would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, thereby decriminalizing it.

Schumer's bill, called the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, also outlines how the federal government would regulate and tax marijuana while still permitting states to make their own marijuana laws.

A good part of the bill is dedicated to compensating communities of color for bearing the brunt of the federal drug policy, which has incarcerated thousands of men and women for non-violent crimes. The bill proposes expunging nonviolent marijuana-related arrests and convictions from federal records. It also sets aside some of the new tax revenue to be spent on justice programs for communities of color.

“It’s not just an idea whose time has come; it’s long overdue,” said Mr. Schumer. “We have all seen the agony of a young person arrested with a small amount of marijuana in his or her pocket. And because of the historical over-criminalization of marijuana, they have a very severe criminal record they have to live with their whole lives.”

The bill is unlikely to become law any time soon. Senate Republicans have already voiced opposition and President Biden has not endorsed it.

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