Thursday, April 01, 2021 4:52:22 AM
SHARE TWEET
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on Wednesday that a bill to federally legalize marijuana will be introduced imminently in the Senate.
He made the comments on the same day that the governor of his home state signed a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis in New York, making possession of up to three ounces of marijuana by adults 21 and older immediately lawful.
“I support decriminalization at the federal level,” Schumer said, “and we’ll be introducing legislation with a few of my colleagues shortly.”
Asked to clarify whether he supports legalization, Schumer replied, “decriminalization, legalization,” implying that the two terms are used interchangeably.
“At the federal level, you call it ‘decriminalization’ because that lets the states legalize,” he said. But in general, advocates draw a distinction between the terms, with decriminalization usually being used to describe state or local policies that simply remove the threat of incarceration for simple possession while fines or other penalties could still be levied, which is distinct from outright legalization.
“The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act legalizing marijuana is now law in New York,” Schumer tweeted separately on Wednesday. “And I will keep working in the Senate to end the federal prohibition on marijuana and undo the damage of the War on Drugs.”
The majority leader has teamed up this session with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) to craft legislation to end federal cannabis prohibition. They started by holding a meeting with representatives from a variety of advocacy groups to gain feedback on the best approach to the reform.
While the text of the bill hasn’t been filed yet and few details have been discussed, it’s expected to remove marijuana from the list of federally controlled substances and promote social equity.
Schumer made a point earlier this month to say that it will specifically seek to restrict the ability of large alcohol and tobacco companies to overtake the industry.
Instead, it will prioritize small businesses, particularly those owned by people from communities most impacted by prohibition, and focus on “justice, justice, justice—as well as freedom,” he said.
He also urged voters to reach out to their congressional representatives and tell them that “this is long overdue.”
Schumer, who also included cannabis legalization as a legislative priority in a recent fundraising email to his list of supporters, said that the American people recognize that prohibition has failed and “so many lives have been wasted because marijuana has been listed as something as bad as heroin” under federal law.
On the House side, Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said recently that he plans to reintroduced his legalization bill, the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which cleared the chamber last year but did not advance in the Senate under GOP control.
Now that Democrats have the majority in both chambers, as well as the White House, there’s a sense of optimism among advocates that comprehensive reform is achievable in this Congress.
But with respect to the White House, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that President Joe Biden’s position on adult-use legalization “has not changed,” meaning he still opposes the policy. He hasn’t said whether he would sign or veto a bill to enact the policy change if it arrived on his desk, however.
The president instead backs modestly rescheduling the plant, decriminalizing possession, legalizing medical cannabis, expunging prior marijuana records and letting states set their own policies.
Recent TLRY News
- Montauk Brewing’s Project 4:20 IPA Returns to Support Surfrider Foundation • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/18/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Good Supply Cannabis Brand Celebrates Earth Day and Unveils Environmental Impact of “Green You Can Feel Good About” Campaign • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/18/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Tilray Brands Lights Up 420 With Music Festivals and Celebrations Across The Country • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/17/2024 11:00:00 AM
- 10 Barrel Brewing Adds 'Juicy Drama' to Its Award-Winning HopBurst Family • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/11/2024 12:30:00 PM
- Montauk Brewing Releases Its First Non-Alcoholic Brew: Montauk N.A. IPA • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/11/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Tilray Brands, Inc. Reports Q3 Fiscal 2024 Financial Results • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/09/2024 11:00:00 AM
- U.S. Futures Show Mixed Movement, Crude Oil Prices Inch Up • IH Market News • 04/09/2024 10:42:21 AM
- Tilray Brands Announces 420 Activations Across Canada and Unveils Celebratory Product Lineup • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/04/2024 11:00:00 AM
- UPDATE – Redhook Brewery Announces New “Big Juicy Ballard” IPA and Revives IPA Daze Festival at the Brewlab on 4/20 Weekend • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/03/2024 06:02:00 PM
- Redhook Brewery Announces New “Big Juicy Ballard” IPA and Revives IPA Daze Festival at the Brewlab on 4/20 Weekend • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/03/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Tilray Medical Announces New Scientific Publication on Age-Related Patterns of Medical Cannabis Use • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/03/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Sweetwater Brewing Unveils New 420 Variety Pack • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/02/2024 11:00:00 AM
- UPDATE – Breckenridge Brewery Partners With Denver Nuggets to Launch Championship Edition Mile High City Golden Ale • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/28/2024 04:50:58 PM
- SweetWater Brewing Launches Hammer Red Amber Ale to Support Georgia Aquarium • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/28/2024 12:30:00 PM
- Breckenridge Brewery Announces Special Denver Nuggets Championship Edition Mile High City Golden Ale • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/28/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Tilray Brands, Inc. to Announce Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results on April 9, 2024 • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/28/2024 11:00:00 AM
- 10 Barrel Brewing Unveils Newest Ready-to-Drink Canned Cocktails • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/26/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Redecan Cannabis Launches New Spring Lineup • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/21/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Tilray Medical Receives Approval for First Medical Cannabis Extract in Portugal • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/14/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Tilray Wellness Introduces New Superfood Products Powered by Hemp at Expo West • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/13/2024 05:10:53 PM
- Tilray Introduces New Naturally Flavoured CBG Infused Cannabis Beverages • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/13/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods Introduces Protein-Rich Breakfast Staples With New Superseed Instant Oatmeal • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/07/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Breckenridge Brewery Channels the Luck of The Irish With Nitro Irish Stout and Go Gold Sweepstakes • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/06/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Canada’s Broken Coast Cannabis Brand Expands Renowned Craft Flower Lineup • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/05/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Tilray Provides International Cannabis Update on Milestone German Cannabis Legalization • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 02/28/2024 12:00:00 PM
North Bay Resources Announces Successful Equipment Test at Bishop Gold Mill, Inyo County, California • NBRI • Apr 23, 2024 9:41 AM
Epazz, Inc.: CryObo, Inc. solar Bitcoin operations will issue tokens • EPAZ • Apr 23, 2024 9:20 AM
Avant Technologies Launches Advanced AI Supercomputing Network and Expansive Data Solutions • AVAI • Apr 23, 2024 8:00 AM
BestGrowthStocks.com Issues Comprehensive Analysis of Triller Merger with AGBA Group Holding Limited • AGBA • Apr 22, 2024 1:00 PM
Cannabix Technologies to Present Marijuana Breathalyzer Technology at International Association for Chemical Testing (IACT) Conference in California • BLO • Apr 22, 2024 8:49 AM
Kona Gold Beverages, Inc. Prepares for First Production Run Set to Launch May 17, 2024 • KGKG • Apr 22, 2024 8:30 AM