The leader of the U.S. Senate and two fellow Democrat senators are set to unveil a draft bill on Wednesday that would eventually legalise recreational cannabis at the federal level in the United States.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, alongside Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), will reportedly hold a press conference tomorrow to introduce the “Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act,” Marijuana Moment reports.
There are currently very few details known about the draft – but it is reported that the aim is to “spark conversation” about the proposed legislation that will be filed at a later date.
According to Marijuana Moment, Mr Schumer claimed earlier this year that the new bill would not only end the prohibition of cannabis use but will also “ensure restorative justice, public health and implement responsible taxes and regulations.”
He added the bill would prioritise small businesses that are owned by people from communities most impacted by prohibition.
However, President Joe Biden is reportedly against the drug policy reform, with some believing that he could veto the bill at the last minute.
Mr Biden, as a Senator, introduced a number of bills that aimed to impose strict punishment on drug dealers in the 1980s.
Also, it is well reported that, a decade later, he signed the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which resulted in the massive incarceration of those committing drug offences.
In a town hall during the campaign, Mr Biden said: “The truth is there’s not been nearly enough evidence that has been acquired as to whether or not it is a gateway drug.
“It’s a debate, and I want a lot more before I legalise it nationally. I want to make sure we know a lot more about the science behind it.”
As we reported during the election campaign, President Biden and VP Kamala Harris made cannabis decriminalisation a prominent part of their presidential campaign.
During a VP debate, Ms Harris said: “We will decriminalise cannabis, and we will expunge the records of those who have been convicted of [possessing] cannabis.”
