United States: three senators propose federal legalization of cannabis in 2021

Three U.S. senators issued a statement yesterday saying that the issue of legalizing cannabis in the U.S. would be a priority for the Democratic Senate this year. They also announced to release a bill in the coming weeks to start a conversation about what the federal policy change will look like.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden and Senator Cory Booker, all Democrats, said in a press release agreed that ending cannabis prohibition «is necessary to right the wrongs of this failed war and to end decades of harm inflicted on communities of color across the country», but that it «is not enough».

Lawmakers in favor of federal legalization said they must «also take action for those who have been unfairly targeted in the war on drugs», especially as more and more states choose to legalize.

«We are committed to working together to propose and advance comprehensive cannabis reform legislation that will not only turn the page on this sad chapter in American history, but also reverse the devastating consequences of these discriminatory policies,» they said. «The Senate will make consideration of these reforms a priority.».

The War on Drugs has been a war on people, and particularly people of color.

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Ending the federal marijuana prohibition is necessary to right the wrongs of this failed war.

I'm working with @SenBooker and @RonWyden on legislation for comprehensive marijuana reform.

- Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 2, 2021

A bill to decriminalize cannabis at federal level passed the House of Representatives last year, but stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Representative Earl Blumenauer, who has worked for many years to end cannabis prohibition, said in a press release that he was very pleased that the new Senate majority was «ready to move forward together on comprehensive cannabis legislation.»

He added that the Cannabis Opportunity, Reinvestment and Deregistration Act (the More law) adopted by the House last December, «is an excellent basis» for reform in the 117th Congress.

Very excited that our champions in the Senate, @SenSchumer, @SenBooker & @RonWyden, are prepared to move forward together on comprehensive cannabis legislation.

The MORE Act - a product of years of work with advocates, cannabis industry leaders, & states - is a great foundation.

- Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) February 1, 2021

«We look forward to working with the Senate to refine the bill, advance its core principles and end federal cannabis prohibition once and for all,» said Blumenauer. «The missing ingredient in cannabis reform has been Senate action. Finally having active leadership from the new Senate Majority Leader, rather than being stuck in McConnell's legislative graveyard, makes all the difference.»

Although President Joe Biden does not support legalization, and more timidly relatively modest cannabis reforms, the Democratic Senate may succeed in bringing a comprehensive legalization proposal to its desk.

This year, 2 cannabis bills have already been tabled: one to declassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act; and another to prevent the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from denying benefits to veterans solely because they use cannabis for medical purposes.