Today, the bipartisan Marijuana Data Collection Act was introduced, led by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY) and U.S. Reps. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) and Don Young (R-AK).
Author: Justin Strekal, NORML Political Director
Last week, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki reiterated the President’s position that cannabis should be rescheduled under federal law to Schedule II rather than descheduled from the Controlled Substances Act… Tonight, President Biden will be delivering his first major address to Congress and to the American people to discuss his vision and priorities for the rest of his first presidential term.
Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton, Barbara Lee, and Earl Blumenauer recently sent a letter to the Executive Director of the United States Botanic Garden, Dr. Saharah Moon Chapotin requesting that male and female hemp plants be on display.
In a newly published poll by The Hill/HarrisX Daily, 75% of respondents said they opposed the federal prohibition and criminalization of marijuana, with only 25% saying they support the current policy.
In fact, the successful passage of legalization in New York alone would represent a massive shift at both the state and federal levels. Right now, six percent of US House members represent New York State, and seven percent of all Congressional House Committee and Subcommittee Chairs are from New York. Ending marijuana prohibition in the Empire State will turn a lot of those lawmakers into strong allies.
This week, a letter led by Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Don Beyer, Jared Huffman, Mondaire Jones, Barabara Lee, and cosigned by 25 other members, called on the Biden Administration to “…act within its power to stop legitimizing unfair cannabis laws.”
Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT), along with 27 other members of the Upper Chamber, reintroduced The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act in the U.S. Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer along with Senators Cory Booker and Ron Wyden, recorded a video outlining their plan to introduce comprehensive legislation to repeal federal marijuana criminalization and expunge the records of those with federal cannabis convictions.