Editor’s Note: The following content has been verified, but is an unedited press release.
Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, the Marijuana Policy Project submitted comments to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) regarding a preliminary draft of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, a new bill that would end federal cannabis prohibition.
Statement below from Karen O’Keefe, state policies director at the Marijuana Policy Project, the nation’s leading cannabis policy reform organization:
“We are grateful for the leadership of Sens. Booker, Schumer, and Wyden to end an eight-decades long policy failure and appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback as the sponsoring offices refine the bill. Federal prohibition urgently needs to end. It has wasted billions of dollars while upending tens of thousands of lives — disproportionately those of Black and Brown Americans — over a plant that is safer than alcohol.
“We are grateful for the leadership of Sens. Booker, Schumer, and Wyden to end an eight-decades long policy failure and appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback as the sponsoring offices refine the bill. Federal prohibition urgently needs to end. It has wasted billions of dollars while upending tens of thousands of lives — disproportionately those of Black and Brown Americans — over a plant that is safer than alcohol.
“We are enthusiastic about the goals of the CAO Act Discussion Draft. We applaud the draft for legalizing cannabis under federal law; directing a substantial percent of the federal tax proceeds to benefit individuals and communities that have been adversely impacted by the war on drugs; providing that cannabis use and cannabis convictions do not adversely affect immigration, federal public benefits, and eligibility for a security clearance; making legalization retroactive, including expungement and re-sentencing and incentivizing state expungement; authorizing the Department of Veterans Affairs and Indian Health Service providers to recommend medical cannabis in accordance with state programs; and promoting social equity in licensing and collecting demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees.
“While the CAO Act Discussion Draft includes numerous praiseworthy provisions, we believe the regulatory aspects need significant clarification and revision to avoid unintended consequences that would derail the hard work states have done for decades. Our two major areas of concern are: the possible upending of state licensing and regulatory systems — driving sales underground — and the impact on medical cannabis access, including for those under the age of 21.
“Additionally, the CAO Act includes several provisions that reduce the harms the federal government inflicts on cannabis consumers. But it retains others, which disproportionately harm people of color. We strongly urge the sponsoring offices to more comprehensively do away with the harm inflicted on cannabis consumers, and individuals with past convictions, including by expanding expungement and re-sentencing provisions, ensuring parole and probation are not revoked for cannabis, and ending federal drug testing for cannabis.
“The vast majority of Americans support legalizing cannabis for adults. Congress must work to swiftly end federal cannabis prohibition through an approach that starts with a framework of deference to states and includes a slow transition, avoids burdens that will drive the market for cannabis products back underground, and stops destroying lives — disproportionately those of Black and Brown Americans — over a plant that is safer than alcohol.
“We look forward to continuing our work with the sponsoring offices on the complex issue of federal legalization and equitable regulation.”
Founded in 1995, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the nation’s leading cannabis policy reform organization. MPP has played a central role in passing dozens of cannabis policy reforms in states across the country, including 11 successful cannabis legalization campaigns, and also works to advance federal reforms. Visit www.mpp.org for more information.
Full Comments
MPP-CAO-Act-Comments- Is CBD Right for Your Dog?
“I am an advocate for CBD, but we succeed because our goal is to educate owners. We try to come from a place of science and personal experience. We do not believe in pressure selling CBD to anyone.” - Opinion: It’s time for action on adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania
National and local surveys of voters continue to reflect overwhelming support for legalization. Cannabis consumers are no longer asking for permission, instead we are demanding REAL reform at the ballot box. Politicians who make grand promises of cannabis reform should be on notice to start making good, or start looking for jobs in the private sector. - Virginia seals 64,000 marijuana distribution charges
Officials said the records were scrubbed from the state’s criminal record database, which is used by employers like school boards, state agencies and local governments to screen employees. - Charlie Crist vows to push for legalizing cannabis as governor
At a press conference in the state capital, Crist argued that the criminalization of marijuana has negatively impacted Floridians, therefore, he will push for “expungement of all existing charges and sentences for misdemeanors and third-degree felonies for marijuana possession.” - Nevada program to help BIPOC cannabis industry applicants
Nevada’s cannabis rush following the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana saw the rise of another multibillion dollar industry that is predominantly owned and managed by white men. - Judge blocks residency rule for Missouri medical cannabis licenses
A federal judge last week permanently blocked Missouri from enforcing a requirement that medical marijuana licenses go to businesses owned by residents of the state. - SD adult-use cannabis initiative approved to gather signatures
South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, the group behind last year’s cannabis legalization push, announced yesterday that a new initiative has been approved for signature gathering. - Cannabis “tipping point” close, says Marijuana Policy Project head
During a recent phone interview, Hawkins told Profiles in Legalization that he thinks half of U.S. states fully legalizing cannabis might be the “tipping point” into an end to federal cannabis prohibition. - Virginia medical cannabis patients see high prices and long waits
Jenn Michelle Pedini, executive director of Virginia NORML, the state chapter of the National Organization for the Reform Marijuana Laws, noted the state’s decision to limit the program to five producers, who are only allowed to operate in the specific region of the state in which they are licensed. - MS activists rally around the state for medical cannabis laws
House and Senate negotiators dickered most of the summer on a plan to replace the medical marijuana program the high court shot down. Reeves had said that if lawmakers could reach an agreement, he would call them into special session to pass it.