On February 4, 2022, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) held a press conference during which he announced that he intends to introduce the long-awaited Cannabis Administration & Opportunity (CAO) Act in April of this year.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, also a New York Democrat, spoke at the same press conference about the MORE Act’s progress. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act is the closest thing to a companion bill for the CAO Act. The MORE Act has been voted out of committee and awaits debate by the full House, not yet scheduled.
At a July 14 press conference, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-NY), joined with Sens. Ron Wyden, (D-WY), and Cory Booker, (D-NJ), to request comment on a discussion draft. The tentative name for the bill is the “Cannabis Administration & Opportunity Act” (CAO Act).
The page will be updated as stories about the CAO Act are added. Below is the PDF file of the 30-page discussion draft.
CAOA-Detailed-Summary-
Contents
CAO Act Coverage
- Schumer, Booker, Wyden ask Senate colleagues for help on cannabis reform
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden and New Jersey’s Cory Booker released a letter Thursday asking senators whose states have legalized marijuana and those who sit on committees with oversight of federal drug policy to share their thoughts as the three attempt to perfect the legislation. - Cannabis in ’22: Is federal legalization on the horizon?
Profiles in Legalization spoke with policy heads from three national reform organizations recently. Is legalization on the horizon? They provided their thoughts on how things look for next year. - National Cannabis Industry submits comments on CAO Act draft bill
In response to a call for input on the draft language for a bill that would make cannabis legal and regulated at the federal level, the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) has submitted a detailed analysis and recommended improvements on behalf of the legal cannabis industry. - Marijuana Policy Project provides feedback on federal cannabis draft bill
On Sept. 1, the Marijuana Policy Project submitted comments to Sens. Schumer, Booker, and Wyden regarding the preliminary draft of a new bill that would end federal cannabis prohibition. - Senate Marijuana Legalization Bill Falls Short in Key Areas, Advocates Say
The most significant highlights include the removal of cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and transfer of oversight from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). - Podcast: Montel talks to Karen O’Keefe about Federal Cannabis Reform
Karen O’Keefe, Director of State Policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, joined Montel Williams on Saturday, Jul 17, for his Let’s Be Blunt podcast to talk about cannabis legalization. - Chuck Schumer: Congress should legalize weed on the federal level
During Wednesday’s news conference, Schumer said marijuana opponents had predicted “doom and gloom” in states legalizing the drug, but said their forecasts of increased crime and other negative ramifications did not come to fruition.
What People Are Saying
Steven W. Hawkins, Marijuana Policy Project
“For justice reform, for equity, for individual liberty, and countless other reasons, it is time to respect the will of the American people and legalize cannabis. I am heartened by the Booker, Schumer, Wyden bill draft, which is a promising first step towards Senate passage, and hopeful that it will lead to negotiations and bipartisan support for an inclusive and equitable legal cannabis industry,”
Steven Hawkins, executive director at the Marijuana Policy Project.
National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA)
“Given the political environment in the Senate right now, our focus will be to explore ways to potentially improve the bill and gain Republican votes – particularly from those lawmakers representing states where cannabis is legal in some form – while we shore up Democratic support. This draft legislation is a great vehicle to jumpstart these conversations and find common ground across the political spectrum.”
Aaron Smith, co-founder and chief executive officer of the National Cannabis Industry Association