Democrat senators vow to legalise cannabis this year

Authored by independent.co.uk and submitted by very_excited
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Three top Senate Democrats have vowed to work towards the legalisation of marijuana this year, including majority leader Chuck Schumer.

Sen Schumer, alongside New Jersey Sen Cory Booker and Oregon Sen Ron Wyden released a joint statement on Monday declaring their intention to push forward major cannabis policy reform.

“The War on Drugs has been a war on people—particularly people of colour,” the statement reads.

“Ending the federal marijuana prohibition is necessary to right the wrongs of this failed war and end decades of harm inflicted on communities of colour across the country.”

The Democratic senators also stipulated that as “states continue to legalise marijuana” they will also work to “lift up people who were unfairly targeted in the War on Drugs.”

“We are committed to working together to put forward and advance comprehensive cannabis reform legislation that will not only turn the page on this sad chapter in American history, but also undo the devastating consequences of these discriminatory policies,” they said.

Consideration of these reforms will be a “priority” of the senators throughout the 117th Congress, the statement said.

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The Democratic senators said they intend to release a unified discussion draft on comprehensive reform in the early part of this year “to ensure restorative justice, protect public health and implement responsible taxes and regulations.”

Sen Schumer has already previously co-sponsored marijuana decriminalisation legislation several years ago, according to CNBC.

Despite the broad success of the drug’s legalisation at state levels across the country, the previously Republican-controlled Senate often proved a reliable roadblock for changes to policies on a federal level.

“Last year, we moved heaven and earth to get a bill passed through the House with key criminal justice and restorative justice provisions, but Mitch McConnell blocked consideration,” Oregon’s Democratic representative Earl Blumenauer said in a statement.

“Now, new Senate leadership is prepared to pick up the mantle.”

So far, 15 states and the District of Columbia have legalised marijuana for adult recreational use, and 36 states permit medical use of the drug, according to CNBC.

“The missing ingredient in cannabis reform has been Senate action,” Rep Blumenauer said.

“To finally have the active leadership of the new Senate majority leader, rather than being stuck in Sen McConnell’s legislative graveyard, makes all the difference in the world.”

Calls for similar change are also intensifying elsewhere on a state level, with New York governor Andrew Cuomo having pledged to legalise the recreational drug in the state this year.

“We will legalise adult-use recreational cannabis, joining 15 other states who have already done so,” Gov Cuomo said during a State of the State address in January.

“This will raise revenue and will end the over criminalisation of this product that has left so many communities of colour over-policed and over incarcerated.”

Dr_Rhodes on February 2nd, 2021 at 17:15 UTC »

If Biden manages to legalize pot he’ll almost guarantee democrats increase their numbers in the midterm

politicsreddit on February 2nd, 2021 at 16:33 UTC »

*Checks weed stocks* Yep, I'm ready.

*Checks weed stash* Running low. Yep, definitely ready.

Edit: Wow, gold! Thank you!

I figured while editing I'd also take this moment to address a lot of questions I'm seeing about which stocks I own. Normally I'm not shy on sharing this information, but for weed stocks it would be easier for me to say that I simply have invested across the board. If it has been mentioned, I probably own it or will buy looking at buying some in the not-so-distant future.

The problem with weed stocks is the industry is not stable right now and it is all speculation on where things may be going. I have some that are up 50%+ since I bought them just a short while ago and others that are down 90%. I invest across an industry in situations like this because it would only take one stock exploding to hedge any losses of others that go under.

For those who are looking at investing, I'd almost treat weed stocks as a gamble but also note that there are companies in many different industries all tapping into weed. For example, pharmaceutical companies developing treatment-based drugs using THC as opposed to just growers. Again, I'm not going to name drop any company specifically because at this point I view them all as risky investments but it is probably easier to assume I own some stock in it if it is among the more well-known entities.

fattymcassface on February 2nd, 2021 at 16:14 UTC »

Is there anyone actually against this outside of Big Religion, Big Tobacco, and Big Alcohol?

Edit: I am somewhat wrong for a variety of reasons. See below for details.