Decriminalize Marijuana?
This bill decriminalizes marijuana. Specifically, it removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana. The bill also requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees, establish a trust fund to support programs dedicated to servicing communities impacted by the war on drugs, and impose an excise tax on cannabis produced in the US or imported to the US. The bill also prohibits the denial of federal benefits to individuals based on a cannabis-related record, establishes a process to expunge convictions for federal cannabis offenses, and directs the Government Accountability Office to look at the societal impact of cannabis legalization.
Sponsor: Rep. Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, New York, District 10)
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Opponents say
• "This bill is an enormous federal subsidy and stimulus for the marijuana industry. This extreme and unwise bill would open the floodgates to marijuana cultivation, distribution, and sale within the United States—allowing bad actors and transnational criminal organizations to further exploit America’s addiction crisis." Source: Rep. Jim Jordan (Republican, Ohio, District 4)
Proponents say
• "This long overdue and historic legislation would reverse failed federal policies criminalizing marijuana. It would also take steps to address the heavy toll this policy has taken across the country, particularly among communities of color. I have long believed that the criminalization of marijuana has been a mistake. The racially disparate enforcement of marijuana laws has only made it worse, with serious consequences, particularly for communities of color." Source: Rep. Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, New York, District 10)
