Sen. John Fetterman is renewing his push to legalize marijuana nationwide, joining fellow Senate Democrats in reintroducing sweeping legislation that would remove cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances and allow individual states to determine their own marijuana policies.
The Pennsylvania Democrat said the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would end what he called the federal government’s outdated prohibition on marijuana while establishing a national framework for regulating the industry, protecting consumers, supporting research, and addressing criminal justice issues tied to past drug enforcement.
Fetterman reiterated his longstanding support for legalization, saying he has “always been very pro-weed.”
“In a very libertarian slant — I’m not going to judge anyone for using it to knock the edge off of life,” Fetterman said. “I think your path to wellness should be without judgment or punishment — legal, safe, and regulated. I supported President Biden and President Trump when they took steps on the issue. But it is time for Congress to stop [messing] around and make weed legal. This bill is a good step forward.”
According to Fetterman, the legislation is designed to create a comprehensive federal regulatory system while leaving legalization decisions largely to the states. He said the proposal would improve public health and safety, encourage scientific research, expand workers’ protections, and invest in communities disproportionately affected by the nation’s decades-long War on Drugs.
Among its public health provisions, the bill would establish a Center for Cannabis Products to oversee the manufacturing, labeling, distribution, and sale of marijuana products. It would also direct the Food and Drug Administration to develop nationwide labeling standards covering product potency, dosage, serving sizes, manufacturing information, and usage instructions.
The legislation would also create new programs aimed at preventing underage marijuana use while increasing federal funding for treatment programs addressing opioid addiction, stimulant abuse, and other substance use disorders.
On the public safety front, the proposal would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act while preserving federal penalties for trafficking cannabis in violation of state law. It would also establish grants to help law enforcement combat illegal marijuana markets.
In addition, the measure would require the Department of Transportation to develop standards addressing cannabis-impaired driving, while directing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to collect data, educate the public, and promote best practices related to impaired driving. States would also be encouraged to adopt open-container restrictions for cannabis.
The legislation would shift federal oversight of the marijuana industry to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. It would eliminate existing tax rules that prevent cannabis businesses from deducting ordinary business expenses and would impose a federal excise tax on cannabis products.
To promote competition, the bill would establish rules intended to prevent monopolistic practices while protecting independent growers, wholesalers, and retailers.
The proposal also places a strong emphasis on scientific research. It would require the Government Accountability Office to study the effects of marijuana legalization, while directing the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health to conduct or support additional cannabis research.
Veterans’ health is another major focus of the legislation. The Department of Veterans Affairs would be required to conduct clinical trials examining the impact of medical cannabis on veterans suffering from chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The bill would also require the Bureau of Labor Statistics to publish demographic data about business owners and employees in the cannabis industry and would establish grants to expand marijuana research programs at colleges and universities, particularly historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.
On criminal justice issues, the legislation would create an Opportunity Trust Fund financed through federal cannabis tax revenue to invest in communities most affected by the War on Drugs. It would also establish a Cannabis Justice Office within the Department of Justice.
Additional provisions would provide grants to reduce barriers to cannabis business licensing and employment, speed FDA review of cannabis-based medications developed by qualifying small businesses, and create housing and community development grants for neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by past drug enforcement.
The proposal also calls for the automatic expungement of federal convictions for nonviolent marijuana offenses and would allow individuals currently serving federal prison sentences for nonviolent cannabis crimes to petition for resentencing.
The legislation would further prohibit discrimination against non-citizens under immigration law based solely on marijuana use or possession and would bar discrimination against cannabis users in the administration of federal benefits.
The measure also includes several labor-related provisions, including eliminating certain pre-employment and random marijuana drug testing for federal employees, strengthening workplace protections for employees in the cannabis industry, and creating grant programs to educate workers about their rights.
Fetterman said he intends to continue advocating for federal marijuana legalization and ensuring that adults who are legally permitted to use cannabis have safe and regulated access to it.
{Matzav.com}
