Senator Chuck Schumer has finally unveiled long-awaited legislation to end the federal-level prohibition of marijuana, reflecting a milestone in shifting public opinion about pot and efforts to end the decades-long war on drugs. The draft bill would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and begin regulating and taxing it under federal authority rather than the current situation in which states that have legalized the drug control sales, taxes, and usage. The bill also calls for expunging previous marijuana-related arrests and programs to help communities affected by cannabis prohibition. Winning passage of the bill, however, isn’t likely, as the measure faces significant opposition from both and moderate Democrats, and President Biden has not endorsed it.
Not surprisingly, the Schumer proposal received a frosty reception from across the board—including the cannabis industry. The bill’s authors even admitted that there are no standards to measure drugged driving or the impact of pot on fetal health. Critics such as Smart Approaches to Marijuana said it did not contain a cap on potency, limits on advertising, and a ban on flavored products that would be attractive to children. The union representing cannabis workers said it lacked support for creating good-paying jobs in the industry. Schumer no doubt believes that by simply introducing the legislation he will curry favor with progressives in his next reelection bid.
And finally, while the federal government can’t find a way forward, municipalities in newly legal pot states New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are scrambling to figure out whether to allow marijuana dispensaries in their neighborhoods. Debate is heating up as localities debate the potential risks—including traffic fatalities and underage use—and the purported financial benefits for communities. Many have already said no, but others are putting out the welcome mat, believing that additional tax revenues and new jobs and businesses outweigh the possible pitfalls. The article points out that a majority of municipalities in Colorado have opted out of commercial sales, but fails to mention the same "not in our backyard" trend in California, Oregon, and Michigan, reflecting a grassroots opposition to rampant marijuana commercialization.