Sen Chuck Schumer has introduced a bill that would decriminalize pot at the federal level and would allow states to decide for themselves what their marijuana policy should be. This is a turn around for Schumer who has opposed any action on pot reform before. Schumer used Twitter to make his announcement.
“THREAD: It’s official. Today, I am formally announcing my plan to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. It’s time we allow states, once and for all, to have the power to decide what works best for them.”
THREAD: It’s official. Today, I am formally announcing my plan to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. It’s time we allow states, once and for all, to have the power to decide what works best for them.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 20, 2018
“I have long believed that states should function as their own laboratories of democracy. My bill is a step in the right direction aimed at removing the barriers to state legalization efforts.”
I have long believed that states should function as their own laboratories of democracy. My bill is a step in the right direction aimed at removing the barriers to state legalization efforts.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 20, 2018
“So why have I changed my stance? Looking at the numbers helped. 2/3 of Americans believe marijuana should be legalized, meanwhile more than half of all drug arrests in the United States are marijuana arrests.”
So why have I changed my stance? Looking at the numbers helped. 2/3 of Americans believe marijuana should be legalized, meanwhile more than half of all drug arrests in the United States are marijuana arrests. (https://t.co/MUOam2uIxz)
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 20, 2018
Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded a memorandum — the Cole memo — from the Obama administration that allowed states greater flexibility in passing laws to expand access to marijuana. Sessions and the administration received a great deal of blowback for the move, although the administration hasn’t acted on it.
Schumer isn’t the only long-term politician to change their mind about marijuana.
Former Speaker of the House John Boehner joined the advisory board of Acreage Holdings last week, a firm that oversees operations for marijuana-cultivation, processing and dispensing throughout the country from California to Massachusetts.
John Boehner said that we need to look no further than our 20 million veterans who use marijuana to self-medicate for pain and PSTD.
“Yet the VA does not allow its doctors to recommend its usage. There are numerous other patient groups in America whose quality of life has been dramatically improved by the state-sanctioned use of medical cannabis.”