What do Republicans need in the Cannabis Legalization Act to support it?
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) confirmed this week that he and his colleagues plan to consult with Republican senators to determine what “they” want to see in a federal cannabis legalization bill, what he should also present this month.
The news follows the U.S. House of Representatives passing another bill to end federal cannabis prohibition, the MORE Act, sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY).
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“We hope [file the bill] towards the end of April,” Schumer said, as reported by Marijuana Moment. The chair added that he, Senate Finance Committee chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) are “talking about it and actually trying to reach out to other lawmakers about it.” measure up.
“I’ve already reached out to a few Republicans to see what they want,” he said.
What do Republicans want?
Not all Republicans might agree on everything about legalizing marijuana, but some have been known to support it. At least under certain regulations.
For example, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who is seen as one of the GOP’s leading advocates for removing cannabis from the federally controlled substances list, voted against the MORE Act. Why?
“The MORE Act is forcing a system on South Carolinans and other states that don’t want them. In comparison, my bill, the States Reform Act, removes the federal government from the equation and lets the states decide for themselves,” Mace explained.
She introduced her bill — the States Reform Act — in November last year, but the measure fell through 12 committees and seven subcommittees without a hearing.
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According to Mace, passage of the MORE bill through the House could be a good start to create a bipartisan consensus on legislation that would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.
According to Mace, what many don’t understand is that their bill doesn’t actually legalize cannabis at the federal level, instead giving each state full control. Mace said she believes the only way for marijuana reform to give states control and treat cannabis like alcohol is to garner Republican support.
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What does Schumer’s bill propose?
Schumer and his colleagues Cory Booker and Ron Wyden presented the draft Cannabis Administration & Opportunity Act in July last year.
The proposal included plans to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act. If passed, the law would also overturn previous convictions and allow individuals serving time for applicable felonies to seek re-sentencing.
Additionally, states would retain their right to set their own marijuana policies and help those criminalized for the cannabis plant.
In February, the trio asked senators to help them finalize the marijuana legalization bill, which is expected to be submitted in April. To that end, leading Senate Democrats sent letters to their peers encouraging them to participate in the drafting and help finalize this bill.
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“In order to adequately address such a nuanced issue, we respectfully seek input, advice and guidance from chairs and senior members of relevant committees, as well as from senators who have addressed the challenges and realities of legalization in their own states,” said the three senators wrote. “We would greatly appreciate your willingness to share your expertise on the intersections between your committees’ jurisdictions, your states’ experiences and comprehensive cannabis reform, and invite you to join us in the process of perfecting this legislation. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this topic with you in the coming weeks.”
Additionally, senators accepted public comment on the bill to help them revise the bill ahead of its submission this month.
And while many industry pundits doubt there will be federal marijuana reform this year, it’s clear that cannabis legalization is slowly but steadily gaining broader support. In addition to the MORE Act, the House of Representatives this week passed the Medical Marijuana Research Act, which will significantly expand scientific research into marijuana, including allowing scientists to study dispensary products.
This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.
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