Summary
The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (S.4591) is a proposed bill in the United States Congress to recognize legalization of cannabis by the states. The authors are Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Cory Booker, and Senator Ron Wyden.
| Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act | |
|---|---|
| U.S. Congress | |
| |
| Introduced by | Cory Booker |
| Summary | |
| Decriminalizes cannabis at the federal level | |
| Status: Pending | |
History edit
On March 31, 2021, following New York legalization under the 2021 Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced he would soon introduce a federal bill to deschedule cannabis, similar to his 2018 Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act.[1] Sources told Politico and other media that a draft of the bill would be introduced on July 14.[2]
On July 14, 2021, Senator Schumer introduced a discussion draft of the bill.[3][4]
On February 4, 2022, Schumer said the legislation would be introduced in the U.S. Senate in April of that year.[5] Later in February, Schumer circulated a letter asking other senators to "join the process of perfecting" the draft, and for their support.[6] The bill was said to be likely to be introduced by its sponsors on or around the unofficial 420 cannabis holiday, i.e. April 20, 2022,[7] but it was later postponed to "before August recess".[8]
The bill was introduced in the United States Senate on July 21, 2022.[9][10] In addition to decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level, the bil would expunge federal cannabis-related criminal records. It would add new funding for law enforcement to go after illegal marijuana operations.[9]
In a Dear Colleague letter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others announced plans to reintroduce the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act before April 20, 2024.[11]
Reception and analysis edit
The bill was called by ABC News in 2021 "the first time in history [senators from a major party] introduced a bill to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level and remove cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances" and end federal prohibition.[12][a]
The New York Times wrote that the bill was unlikely to become law, but was significant because "[t]he suggestion that the Senate's top leader and the chairman of the powerful Finance Committee would sponsor major decriminalization legislation would have been fantastical in the not-too-distant past".[14]
The Associated Press wrote that the support of the Senate Majority Leader for ending prohibition "underscor[es] how a once-fringe idea is increasingly mainstream".[15]
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act had a single Senate sponsor in 2015–2016 Congress: Bernie Sanders, an independent.[13]
References edit
- ^ Steven T. Dennis (March 31, 2021), Schumer Pushes Senate on Pot Laws as States Leap Ahead, Bloomberg
- ^ Victor Reklaitis (July 13, 2021). "Schumer, other Democrats to unveil draft bill for cannabis decriminalization on Wednesday". MarketWatch. Dow Jones.
- ^ NATALIE FERTIG (July 14, 2021). "Schumer launches long-shot bid for legal weed". Politico.
- ^ Nicholas Fandos (July 14, 2021). "Schumer Proposes Federal Decriminalization of Marijuana". The New York Times.
- ^ "Senate Majority Leader Provides Timeline for Introducing Long-Awaited Marijuana Descheduling Plan". official website. NORML. February 7, 2022.
- ^ Jordain Carney (February 10, 2022). "Schumer asks for input as Democrats finalize cannabis bill". The Hill.
- ^ Jonathan D. Salant (April 2, 2022). "Booker aims for 4/20 to drop a new legal weed bill". NJ.com.
- ^ Aris Folley (April 14, 2022). "Timeline for marijuana legalization bill slips in Senate". The Hill.
- ^ a b Natalie Fertig (July 21, 2022). "Schumer's legal weed bill is finally here". Politico.
- ^ S.4591 bill history, U.S. Congress official website
- ^ Gelsi, Steve (April 10, 2024). "Senators Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden and Cory Booker pushing cannabis legalization bill". Market Watch.
- ^ Bill Hutchinson (July 16, 2021). "What ending the federal marijuana prohibition could mean for the industry". ABC News.
- ^ "Bernie Sanders' bill to end federal marijuana prohibition has zero co-sponsors so far". Chicago Sun-Times. January 28, 2016. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017.
- ^ Nicholas Fandos (July 14, 2021). "Schumer Will Propose Federal Decriminalization of Marijuana". The New York Times.
- ^ BRIAN SLODYSKO (July 14, 2021). "Senate leader lends clout to marijuana legalization push". Associated Press.
Further reading edit
- "Schumer set to unveil huge new federal marijuana legalization bill". The Hill. July 13, 2021.
- Gabrielle Gurley (July 19, 2021), "High Hurdles for Commonsense Cannabis Reform", The American Prospect
- Sasha Hupka (July 29, 2021). "Senate moves to legalize pot at federal level. What are the chances?". The Los Angeles Times.
External links edit
- Draft bill at The New York Times
- Legislation to End Federal Prohibition of Marijuana (July 14, 2021) at C-Span
