The federal cannabis reform law is burdening the federal government with an increase in interest groups

Yesterday was the deadline for commenting on draft federal cannabis reform bill, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), and cannabis advocacy groups did not disappoint – with an avalanche of comments rolling in ahead of time.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Senator Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) signed a comprehensive bill to end the federal cannabis ban as main sponsors .

The draft version of the measure was released in July, resulting in an open public comment period that gave people time to weigh up about the revised measure.

Several well-known cannabis advocacy organizations such as the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), and the Marijuana Policy Project (MMP) have posted their comments.

The Marijuana Justice Coalition has chosen to send a joint letter on the legalization proposal. The Marihuana Justice Coalition consists of members such as ACLU, Center for American Progress, Drug Policy Alliance, Human Rights Watch, Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights, MoveOn, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

In a 30-page commentary document, NORML called for civil protections to be strengthened to bring justice to those who had previously suffered injustice through federal marijuana criminalization and the overhaul of obsolete employment policies. The organization also called for ensuring that small and local businesses can compete with both larger businesses and the illegal market by reducing regulatory and tax burdens. NORML also called for the proposed excise tax to be narrowed in order to free the medical cannabis consumer markets and balance the roles of the FDA, TTB, ATF and antitrust authorities.

“We appreciate the leadership of Senators Schumer, Booker, and Wyden in their efforts to end America’s failed, unfair, and racially biased cannabis ban experiment. The CAOA draft represents a thoughtful way to end federal marijuana criminalization. We are confident that once a similar language is finalized and formally introduced in the US Senate, it will find bipartisan acceptance – knowing that voters will of all political parties strongly support the lifting of the failed marijuana policy of the federal government, ”said NORML Political Director Justin Strekal.

The NORML draft discussion summary can be read here.

MPP also stressed the importance of easing restrictions on medical cannabis patients. MPP outlined two major problem areas: the possible shift in government licensing and regulatory systems that will only drive sales underground, and the impact on access to medical cannabis, even for those under the age of 21.

“We are grateful to the leadership of Sens. Booker, Schumer and Wyden for ending eight decades of policy failure and appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback as the sponsorship bureaus refine the bill,” said Karen O’Keefe , State Policy Director at MPP. The federal ban must be ended urgently. It has wasted billions of dollars while turning tens of thousands of lives – disproportionately that of black and brown Americans – on a plant safer than alcohol.

The NCIA noted that the CAOA provides “a well thought-out foundation for a major reform of cannabis policy that clearly illustrates the authors’ engagement with stakeholders during the drafting process.” Read the full NCIA draft recommendation here.

Since the CAOA draft discussion was released, the NCIA team has worked hard to compile our comments and gather feedback from key stakeholders, and now it’s finally time to let you know what NCIA has submitted! https://t.co/T11hfr2TbT pic.twitter.com/Re1LrH59qT

– National Association of the Cannabis Industry (@NCIAorg) August 30, 2021

“Ending nearly a century of disastrous prohibition policies is a monumental effort that should not be taken lightly,” said Aaron Smith, NCIA co-founder and chief executive officer. “We appreciate the Senate leadership for taking a huge step toward this goal, which a clear majority of Americans support. There is still much to be done and it is important to involve those who will be hardest hit by both the ban and the proposed legislation. “

The wave of comments shows the importance of the bill and how the industry depends on these fine details.