Washington, DC: Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR), and 15 other Democrats have reintroduced legislation, S. 4226: The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (aka CAOA), to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act – thereby empowering states to regulate marijuana primarily as they see fit.
NORML’s Political Director Morgan Fox said: “NORML is pleased to once again support this comprehensive bill that deschedules cannabis federally and emphasizes repairing the harm and injustices caused by decades of prohibitionist policies. We strongly encourage senators on both sides of the aisle to support and cosponsor this legislation so that Congress can finally bring about an end to the conflict between state and federal marijuana laws and to the ongoing damage being done to communities across the nation because of cannabis criminalization.”
Said Leader Schumer in a prepared statement: “It’s past time for the federal government to catch up to the attitudes of the American people when it comes to cannabis. That’s why we’re reintroducing the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, legislation that would finally end the federal prohibition on cannabis while prioritizing safety, research, workers’ rights and restorative justice.”
Added Sen. Wyden: “Our comprehensive Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act doesn’t tell states what to do – but it provides them with the tools to effectively implement the laws their voters and legislators choose. Public health, public safety, opportunity, and social justice must be at the core of any cannabis reform proposal, and it is crucial stakeholders continue to have a seat at the table. I look forward to working with my colleagues and advocates across the country to make these priorities a reality.”
A previous version of CAOA was introduced in the 117th Congress. That version of the bill only gained four co-sponsors and it failed to receive a hearing.
Additional information on The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act is available from Senator Booker.