Democrats send letter to Biden urging him to legalize weed

As marijuana faces federal legalization, Democrats are asking President Biden to step up and delay the drug.

The Hill reports that a group of senators sent the Biden administration a letter last Wednesday. It was signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker and others.

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The letter urges the Biden administration to use its powers for two purposes: to lift the cannabis schedule and to erase the names of all those convicted of nonviolent cannabis crimes. The letter highlights the medical benefits of the drug and includes a recommendation from the World Health Organization to reclassify the drug and remove it from “the more restrictive classification under international drug treaties.” It also highlights the impact that the criminalization of cannabis has had on communities of color.

“We call on the Biden administration to act quickly to right this decades-long injustice that has been hurting individuals, particularly black and brown communities,” the letter said.

The letter is a follow-up to earlier correspondence between Democratic senators and the Biden administration, an exchange that has been described as “extremely disappointing” and spanned only “half a page.” Apparently the administration is concerned about the safety of cannabis and the fact that there are no studies to suggest it is a safe and effective treatment for any condition.

“The government’s failure to coordinate a timely review of its cannabis policy harms thousands of Americans, slows research, and deprives Americans of their ability to use marijuana for medicinal or other purposes,” the letter said.

RELATED: Can the Biden administration postpone cannabis?

As marijuana becomes legal in more and more states, it still faces an uphill battle when it comes to federal laws. While a large percentage of Democrats want to legalize it, many Republicans oppose it, making it unlikely that either party will reach an agreement and the laws will be changed anytime soon.