Bernie Sanders proposes legalizing marijuana in the U.S.

The Democratic primary candidate Bernie Sanders announced last week that it supports removing marijuana from the federal government's list of dangerous drugs, a move that would allow U.S. states to legalize it without going through Washington.

The Vermont senator, who describes himself as a «democratic socialist,» announced his proposal during a two-hour conference call with high school students, which was broadcast to 300 campuses across the country.

«Too many Americans have had their lives ruined because of their criminal records and the consequences of marijuana use,» he told more than 1,700 students, who immediately broke into applause. «That’s wrong—it has to change.».

No other presidential candidate has gone as far in their statements, even though they all have some opinion on the subject. Some, such as Hillary Clinton, are waiting to see the results from Colorado.

See: What are the 2016 U.S. presidential candidates' positions on cannabis?

Sanders' plans would not automatically make the marijuana It would be legal at the national level, but states would be allowed to regulate cannabis in the same way they currently regulate alcohol and tobacco. And people who use it would no longer face federal prosecution.

Cannabis companies could thus use the banking services that have been unavailable to him until nowand claim tax deductions that federal law currently prohibits them from claiming.

Marijuana is still classified in the United States as a drug with «high potential for abuse.» Several researchers studying drug regulations say this classification is inappropriate. The American Medical Association has called for «a review of cannabis’s status and for measures to facilitate clinical research.».

Sanders’ proposal is in line with the views of a growing number of Americans and a solid majority of Democrats. In fact, 58% of the U.S. population supports the legalization of cannabis in the United States, a percentage that has never been higher.

Bonus : An American student's perfect reaction when Bernie Sanders is talking about legalizing cannabis in the United States.