What a Democratic Senate means for cannabis legalization in the U.S.

Will the U.S. Senate vote to legalize cannabis in the United States over the next two years? This is one of the possible scenarios now that the Democrats have secured a majority in the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress.

In light of Joe Biden's presidential victory, the new situation in Capitol Hill means that a change in federal cannabis policy is on the agenda for the 117th Congress. While the former vice president did not include the legalization of adult use in its campaign, he pledged to implement modest reforms, such as decriminalizing cannabis and expunging prior convictions.

The push by Democratic leaders in the House and Senate—who have committed to advancing far-reaching cannabis reforms—could lead to sweeping changes. The The House has already approved a comprehensive bill on legalization, the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Decriminalization Act (MORE Act), last month.

With a Republican-majority Senate, the reform bills were dead on arrival. Democratic leaders in the Senate have already publicly committed to debating and advancing most of these important reforms, including the MORE Act.

Georgia's two new Democratic senators are also both in favor of comprehensive cannabis reform.

Senator Jon Ossoff, who defeated Republican David Perdue, has declared that he would push for a policy change in the Senate. Senator-elect Raphael Warnock has also recently discussed the failures of the war on drugs and his support for cannabis reform.

Joe Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris, Nevertheless, both have faced significant criticism regarding their past support for punitive anti-drug legislation. Biden has offered only half-hearted support for a modest reclassification of cannabis, the decriminalization of possession, the legalization of medical cannabis, and federal protection for U.S. states that adopt their own policies.

Although Kamala Harris was the primary sponsor of the Senate’s companion bill to the MORE Act, she indicated that she would not necessarily pressure Biden on the issue.

In any case, a Democratic-controlled Congress is a good indication that cannabis legislation will evolve in 2021. The extent to which it will evolve—and the President’s response—remains less certain at this time. .