How to decriminalize weed without the federal government
“I have to say I’m too eager to put all my balls in federal cannabis legislation [MORE Act] basket yet.”
A few months ago, The New York Times published an article on the concept of languor, a melancholic emotion that leaves us feeling stagnant and aimless. Call it a trend or call it a Covid episode. Regardless, it’s a feeling many of us experience as the 4/20 Cannabis Holiday draws near. approaches.
For many of us in the cannabis industry, this languishing feeling is tied directly to the news of the MORE Act, its recent success in the House of Representatives, and the inescapable expectation that federal legalization will wither and die in the Senate. Once again.
The MORE Act cannot save us
As we approach the 15-month mark with President Joe Biden in the White House, many of us remember his promise to decriminalize cannabis as vividly as we remember sanitizing our food during the first weeks of the pandemic. We see that President Biden and his administration have done absolutely nothing to deliver on this damning promise, and it’s hard to ignore.
Now it’s true that the House of Representatives just passed the MORE Act for the second time, bringing together pro-legalization advocates in the Senate like Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker to put cannabis reform on the President’s desk bring to.
“I’m talking about helping the real people who are in prison for past cannabis ‘crimes’ and those suffering the horrific aftermath of a criminal record.”
But as Donald Glover once said, this is America. And I have to say I’m not too keen on putting all my eggs in the basket of state cannabis legislation just yet. We keep an eye on the price
Federal moves to legalize cannabis continue to gain bipartisan support—slowly. But there are a lot of games going on in the Senate, and I think it’s best if we keep an eye on price.
You know? The actual prices. Like social justice and a better America for future generations.
I’m not talking about the bill traveling around Capitol Hill. I’m talking about helping the real people incarcerated for past cannabis “crimes” and those suffering the horrific aftermath of a criminal record.
I’m talking about the opportunity to invest in communities that could thrive with investing cannabis tax revenues. I’m talking about the restoration of human rights and civil liberties across America. And all of this can still happen at the state and local level.
Do not get me wrong. I love hearing about the outpouring of support for what is happening in Congress.
But no matter what happens with the MORE Act—even if some version of it passes the Senate—we all still have work to do in our individual states, cities, and localities.
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How to decriminalize weed in your state
No matter what happens in Congress, we all still have the power to vote for lawmakers that support cannabis decriminalization at the state and local levels.
Federal legalization is important. But most of the people who fall into our unjust system via the trap of cannabis criminalization are caught by local laws. They are arrested by the local police. They are being held in county jails and state jails.
We have the power to challenge and replace local politicians who do not support:
- The abolition of harsh penalties for cannabis possession
- The automatic deletion of records related to cannabis
- Freedom for people currently jailed for cannabis
- Recognizing cannabis as a business that benefits local communities
Despite lagging federal legalization efforts, we have the power to advocate for medical marijuana programs in the 13 states that don’t already have them. We can continue to fight stigma and stereotypes. We can improve life in our own state, our own county, our own block.
“Weed saved us as citizens of America from breakups and breakdowns, from chronic health problems and from collective bad nerves.”
Cannabis remains a uniquely American industry — not only because of its historical roots in racism, power, and politics, but also because of the love people have for the plant.
Weed has saved us, as citizens of America, from breakups and breakdowns, from chronic health problems, and from collective bad nerves. A joint can be a life saver, and a dab can turn your mood around.
But weed alone won’t save us from our languor. If the MORE Act doesn’t make it onto Joe Biden’s desk, we’ll have to continue the good fight locally.
And you know what else? When the MORE Act becomes law in the country, we will quiet must continue the good fight at the local level. We might as well start now.
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Be our own heroes
Joe Biden can’t make our student loans or legalize cannabis. But that should not and cannot stop us from supporting the decriminalization and destigmatization of cannabis at every opportunity.
“We have the ability to make changes even if the MORE bill doesn’t pass the Senate, as long as we put our pressure on the right places.”
Cannabis is our country’s fifth most valuable crop, and it pays the bills and keeps the lights on for nearly half a million Americans. But just like the pesky devil’s advocate who dares me to name a cannabis product that will fix his congenital heart defect and get him a hot girlfriend by next week, I’m here to say that weed won’t fix everything.
There is no cannabis law that will remedy a historic lack of social justice in the United States.
Regardless of how the MORE bill plays out in the Senate this time, we must continue to closely monitor how cannabis licensing programs are formed and nurtured, who has access to licenses and seed capital, and guard against local counties, cities and towns that discriminate against legal and licensed cannabis companies.
Legalization legislation gets all the glory in Congress, but power is exercised more often in local elections, city council votes, and in those boring meetings that decide local zoning issues.
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Integrate the fight for cannabis justice into your new normal
Weed alone will not save us. Come on, it’s a plant!
But if you believe in the power of the cannabis plant and are willing to tap into your own agency, then you can begin organizing in your state, city, or community in ways that address the damage caused by the War on Drugs a path for cannabis companies to succeed.
Hold your local politicians accountable in the elections. If the legislature doesn’t listen, you become the legislator. Exert more kindness towards the stoners you see enjoying their day. Stop testing employees for THC. You can even get involved in reshaping drug policy right here, right now.
Federal bills can languish, but we don’t have to.
We have the ability to make changes even if the MORE bill doesn’t pass the Senate, as long as we put our pressure on the right places. The power is ours.
Janessa Bailey
Born and raised in the Midwest, Janessa serves as the current culture editor of Leafly. She has a background in content, activism and African American Studies.
Janessa is the creator of Lumen and Seeds of Change.
Check out Janessa Bailey’s articles
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