Will weeds ever be federally legal in the US? What the experts say

By Tia Moskalenko

Many states have already passed laws and regulations to make the sale and use of marijuana legal. The question is whether the US will legalize the drug at the federal level.

In a recent November 2020 poll, 68% of American residents support federal marijuana legalization. Making marijuana legal across the country is something many hope for, but legalization is not supported by politicians. Based on the same survey, less than half of Conservatives and Republicans support the legalization of marijuana by the federal government.

Photo by matt_benoit / Getty Images

The owners and founders of AskGrowers’ major cannabis brands have addressed this important question. The CEO at Fox Hollow Flora says federal laws will come into existence in 2022, backed by a statement from Lisa Tollner, Co-founder of Sensi products, indicating that the Democrats are currently working on new legislation. She is right! Two Democratic senators, along with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have announced that they will push for legislation to be passed this year, which would end a lengthy federal ban.

Proponents of cannabis reform have given some strong reasons why legalization should take place. These include:

• Medicinal benefits of cannabis
• Possible tax revenue
• Regulation would make cannabis use safer

The founder of Mindful earth, KellyBensonsupports legalization but believes it will be done for “financial / economic reasons and not health reasons”. She believes the lack of cannabis education and abuse will stall any legalization for medical benefit. Dee Dee Taylor of 502 hemp Is not convinced that federal marijuana legalization will take place anytime soon; However, she states, “I believe that more and more states will make it legal and force Congress to remove it from the DEA’s absurd schedule that I am listing.”

There are many steps involved in getting marijuana off this list. Legislators need to change the financial laws that allow banks to benefit from credit cards issued to pharmacies. There must also be a single issue bill that would remove marijuana from the list and allow studies and research into medical treatment to be conducted. When these two things go together, it would be possible to revise the current Criminal Code and push federal weed legalization and move marijuana from the Appendix I list to an Appendix III list.

Photo by FatCamera / Getty Images

While many in the cannabis industry are hoping for changes to existing laws, there are many political hurdles. The CEO and co-founder of Humboldtpharmacist, GillianElevatebelieves there will be no federal weed legalization in the coming year. She believes that “it is more likely that it will be decriminalized, at least in the near future.” The House Democrats are showing great support for the decriminalization of marijuana, and this is also supported by the current president in his plan for Black America.

RELATED: Somebody Should Let The Federal Government Know That Americans Want Legal Marijuana

Decriminalizing this drug would end government interference in cannabis research. It would also make marijuana available for medical use and allow veterans to get medical marijuana prescriptions from the VA for the first time. But when will weeds become legal nationwide? This answer remains unclear. Decriminalization at the federal level would be a big step in a positive direction, but support from both parties is required.

Those who firmly believe that the federal government will legalize marijuana will appreciate the latest news about marijuana at the federal level. Existing cannabis companies and their founders, including Robert Miller of Purefectionary, AaronPuryear of OakCity of hemp, and Rahul Lavingia of Stoned mindAll support federal legalization and hope for changes in 2021 or 2022.

RELATED: Marijuana is bipartisan, but that doesn’t mean federal legalization is a safe bet

Chuck Schumer will drive changes to federal law with or without the assistance of President Biden. Schumer supports decimalization at the federal level and plans to introduce legislation soon. When asked about this legislation, he said that he personally supported legalization and that this bill that was being introduced would go in that direction. This bill would also include provisions to remove marijuana convictions from criminal records.

Photo by Drew Angerer / Getty Images

Until federal laws change, cannabis users and producers will continue to adhere to state laws. With many states already allowing the sale and use of medical marijuana and recreational marijuana, the industry continues to grow. Bonsai Cultivation CEO Tom Stevenson believes weeds will be legal at the federal level, but the rollout will be slow. “States have the tax revenue and they are not going to give it up quickly.”

Legalizing weeds at the federal level would open many more opportunities for business owners. However, some are not overly convinced that federal laws will be changed in the coming year.

Zach Romey of Robhots and BrandonDorsky of Fruit platters Both believe there will be legal weeds at the federal level, but it won’t happen for a few years. Robert Miller, Owner of Purificationery, gave his response to federal legalization, stating: “Yes, and hopefully in the next few years.”

It’s going to be a slow process, but this latest bill will be a good start to the road for state-legalized marijuana in the near future.

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