The House has passed a bill to legalize marijuana on the federal level, but Democratic backers of the measure face a tough uphill climb to win approval in the Senate. The bill—which would remove marijuana from the federal controlled substances list—faces staunch opposition from Republicans, as well as a few Democratic Senators, including Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. Both senators have voiced concerns about legalizing recreational cannabis (Manchin is supportive of legal medical marijuana) given the substance abuse crisis in the country, and the lack of comprehensive data on how people are affected by pot. The uncertainty comes as more and more states legalize marijuana on their own and establish cannabis markets. Polls show broad support for legalization, although in many legal states municipalities have invoked the opt-out clause to ban retail cannabis sales and on-site consumption lounges, indicating a grassroots reluctance to sanction commercial cannabis sales. The Democratic House bill, knowns as the MORE Act, would not only remove marijuana from the controlled substances list but also expunge certain marijuana-related convictions, and impose a tax on marijuana sales to help communities disproportionately impacted by the nation’s war on drugs. While legislators argue over how to move the bill forward, there’s unfortunately little discussion of how to regulate and monitor the marijuana market and impose restrictions to protect public health and safety on a federal level.
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