Chuck Schumer’s Long-awaited Federal Marijuana Legalization Bill: Will Entire Senate Accept It?

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Sen. Cory Booker (DN.J.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Presented a highly anticipated federal decriminalization bill on Wednesday, calling it “long “. overdue ”and monumental.

“We are finally taking steps in the Senate to redress the injustices of the failed drug war,” said Schumer, calling the marijuana arrests a “waste of human resources” torturing those whose lives have been ruined by criminals. especially with color communities and the poor who are disproportionately affected by the ban.

Photo by Sarah Silbiger / Getty Images

Schumer realized that his own attitude towards legalization has evolved, but is now strong for ending prohibition, as is “70% of the American population who support legalization.”

RELATED: Federal Law on Legalizing Cannabis is Proposed

He referred to the state of South Dakota. “If South Dakota can legalize recreational marijuana, so can the Senate!”

Bank account

When asked if the bill contained banking regulations, Cory Booker took the microphone and said categorically, If the Senate tries to pass a banking bill to please big corporations, before addressing issues of social justice and cannabis legalization dealt, I’m going to get down to stopping a simple bank account so someone can make the big bucks and leave everyone else behind.

Steven Hawkins, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, said he was encouraged by the law: “For judicial reform, for justice, for individual freedom, and for countless other reasons, it is time to respect the will of the American people and legalize cannabis. I am encouraged by the Booker, Schumer, Wyden bill, which is a promising first step towards passing the Senate, and I hope it will lead to negotiations and bipartisan support for an inclusive and equitable legal cannabis industry. “

RELATED: Schumer Learns He Doesn’t Have What It takes to legalize marijuana

What now?

While the legislation faces a 50-50 Senate, it is clearly a major milestone for advocates for cannabis and social justice.

Schumer stated at the press conference that they, the sponsors, want public feedback on the proposal and are particularly interested in learning about the potency of cannabis, coordinating law enforcement at the federal and state levels, and finding a fair system to lowering the often onerous barriers to entry into the cannabis industry while mitigating the influence of illegal cannabis operators, noted Marijuana Moment.

Interested parties are encouraged to send comments on these and other topics to Cannabis_Reform@finance.senate.gov by September 1st.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.