Fight for US Cannabis Legalization Intensifies in Senate

One Small Step, Or One Giant Leap? Is the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act a milestone moment for cannabis legalization, or will it fall on deaf ears across the aisle?

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), joined forces to introduce the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act to the Senate. With 163 pages, the bill is touted as one of the most inclusive and comprehensive drafts ever introduced to end marijuana prohibition.

While the bill leaves the ultimate decision for cannabis legalization up to the individual states, it promises to deschedule marijuana on a federal level. Additionally, the bill provides provisions for expungement of prior convictions, resentencing petitions, and ending the consequences of a marijuana conviction, such as immigration restrictions.

Naturally, the bill is the first step toward legitimizing the cannabis industry and opening the door to a less restrictive business environment.