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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Democrat said the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would end what he called the federal government’s outdated prohibition on marijuana while establishing a national framework for regulating the industry, protecting consumers, supporting research, and addressing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}

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Gedolei Yisroel gathered in Bnei Brak for an emergency meeting to address the growing shortage of qualified melamdim in Talmudei Torah. Participants discussed the increasingly difficult challenge of finding capable educators for chadarim, particularly in the younger grades, where the need has become especially acute in recent years.

Among those in attendance were Harav Dov Landau, Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Harav Dovid Segal, Harav Chaim Feinstein, Harav Shraga Steinman, and Harav Shimon Galei.

During the gathering, Rav Chaim Feinstein spoke passionately about the unique role of melamdim, emphasizing that those who teach young children occupy a place of extraordinary importance in the transmission of Torah.

“The dissemination of Torah by melamdim in chadarim is no less important than that of Roshei Yeshiva and ramim. The Roshei Yeshiva and ramim teach the Torah Sheba’al Peh, while the melamdim in chadarim are the transmitters of the Torah Shebiksav, and they are an inseparable part of the chain of transmission that passes the Torah from generation to generation. The special halachah in the laws of aveilus regarding one who ‘tani u’masni’—one who teaches others—applies equally to those melamdei tinokos.”

The Rosh Yeshiva concluded by urging families and community leaders to recognize the tremendous significance and sacred responsibility carried by those who devote themselves to teaching the youngest talmidim.

{Matzav.com}

Addressing approximately 4,000 bochurim preparing to enter yeshivah gedolah, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered an inspiring and wide-ranging address at a special Dirshu gathering in Bnei Brak, urging the talmidim to seize the opportunity before them, guard against the unique spiritual challenges of this new stage of life, and strengthen themselves through unwavering dedication to Torah. During his remarks, the Rosh Yeshiva shared a remarkable personal story about a talmid he once caught going to a movie theater, who ultimately became an outstanding mechanech.

The event was organized by Dirshu as a special preparation program for bochurim transitioning from yeshivos ketanos to yeshivos gedolos. Before the Rosh Yeshiva spoke, the program’s moderator introduced him with words of profound reverence, saying:

“With awe and trembling we incline our ears to hear Daas Torah, offering clear guidance on the path that ascends to the House of Hashem, from the great shepherd of the Torah world and the yeshivos, who faithfully transmits the mesorah from generation to generation, who carries upon his pure heart the burden of this generation and the continued existence of the world of bnei Torah and the holy yeshivos. We will engrave upon our hearts the living words of Torah from the holy mouth of Maran, the great gaon, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch.”

The Rosh Yeshiva opened by emphasizing that the move into yeshivah gedolah is one of the defining moments in a person’s life and that the habits developed during these years will shape his future in Torah, avodas Hashem, and personal growth.

“My masters and teachers, you are now entering a stage that can be said to be the most important in your lives. The period when one goes from yeshivah ketanah to yeshivah gedolah is the foundation. You are now building the spiritual foundation for your entire lives. The diligence you develop in yeshivah gedolah is the foundation for a lifetime of diligence; your tefillah, your middos tovos, your precision in halachah—the more you grow and elevate yourselves in these areas, the more they will become the foundation of your entire lives.

“The purpose of all our lives is to cleave to the Holy One, Blessed is He, and the path to that is through Torah study. The more Torah there is, both in quantity and in quality, the greater the deveikus. It all begins now, and the way you conduct yourselves in yeshivah gedolah will build the foundation for your entire lives. Therefore, one must be extremely careful not to belittle even a single moment: utilize every moment in yeshivah gedolah, go to sleep on time, wake up on time, and never neglect Torah study.”

The Rosh Yeshiva then warned the talmidim about the new spiritual tests that accompany the greater independence of yeshivah gedolah.

“There is a new yetzer hara. Until now you were in yeshivah ketanah, under the supervision of the yeshivah and the mashgiach, and most of you lived at home under the guidance of your parents. Now there is a feeling of freedom. At night, nobody knows what you are doing. The very feeling that a person is free is, in itself, a reason that the yetzer hara can seize a person.

“There was once a Chassidishe bochur from America who arrived as a very strong bochur, and I caught him going to the movies. I felt I could be lenient with him, so I kept him in the yeshivah, and he began to learn. Today he is a very great mechanech. When I asked him how a bochur like him could do such a thing, he answered: ‘I came to Eretz Yisroel, I felt free, and therefore I did it.’ You should know that this feeling of freedom is a yetzer hara, and it is important to overcome it.”

He continued by cautioning against another common mistake made by bochurim entering yeshivah gedolah.

“A second yetzer hara is the feeling, ‘I am smart. I’m already in yeshivah gedolah, and I can decide for myself what is good for me. I don’t need to listen to what the Rosh Yeshiva or the mashgiach tells me.’ That is a great mistake. In reality, you still need to follow the guidance of the mashgiach and the Roshei Yeshiva, and not think that you are wiser than they are.”

The Rosh Yeshiva urged every talmid to leave behind any limiting perceptions formed during his years in yeshivah ketanah.

“The third point: A bochur entering yeshivah gedolah may think, ‘I’m not one of the masmidim’ or ‘I’m not one of the tzaddikim.’ Know that when you enter yeshivah gedolah—new faces have arrived here! You are completely different bochurim, a different cheftza. Forget all the weaknesses you had in yeshivah ketanah. Don’t think, ‘I’m that type.’ There is no such thing.

“Even bochurim who were average in yeshivah ketanah—in yeshivah gedolah you can become outstanding! On the other hand, a bochur who excelled in yeshivah ketanah must realize that learning in yeshivah gedolah is something entirely different. The learning is more difficult and demands much greater diligence. Don’t become discouraged if you are not number one in the shiur; do your very best, and you will succeed.”

He encouraged the talmidim to set lofty goals in every aspect of their spiritual lives.

“A bochur should enter yeshivah gedolah with very great aspirations: to know the entire Torah, to know halachah completely, to fulfill every mitzvah properly, and to reach the highest level in bein adam l’chaveiro. The Chofetz Chaim says that the yetzer hara tries to plant in a person the feeling that ‘this isn’t for me—it’s only for geniuses.’ That is the advice of the yetzer hara! Every person can learn with tremendous diligence and be meticulous in mitzvos.

“In addition, Maran Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l said that a person is afraid to accept upon himself the yoke of Torah, but one who accepts the yoke of Torah eventually finds the Torah sweet. Even when there is a difficult sugya that brings no immediate enjoyment, there is tremendous satisfaction in knowing that one is doing the most important thing in life.”

The Rosh Yeshiva also stressed that every talmid must know his own strengths and limitations while striving for greatness.

“One must aspire to the highest levels, but according to one’s own abilities and talents. If a bochur needs seven hours of sleep, he should not sleep only five and a half hours because his friend does so, because then he will collapse completely. The essence of iyun is wonderful clarity, not merely saying words. Rav Chaim of Volozhin zt”l says that if a person is going through a period of decline and has no desire to learn, he should not stop learning. If you are capable of learning at only 30%, then learn at 30%, and through that you will return to 100%.”

Concluding his address, Rav Hirsch turned to the challenges currently confronting the Torah world, emphasizing that the proper response to the draft decree and other pressures is greater attachment to Torah and to Hashem.

“We all know that there are decrees against the Torah world, the draft decree, and they are coming against us in every possible way. We must know that the way of bnei Torah to fight against this is through Torah study itself, meticulous observance of the mitzvos, and attachment to the Holy One, Blessed is He.

“If we are attached to HaKadosh Baruch Hu, it will bring us siyata d’Shmaya. If we live with the feeling of ‘V’yod’ei Shimcha,’ if we think about what Hashem wants and learn with diligence—nothing will happen, and we will defeat them completely! There is absolutely nothing to worry about. HaKadosh Baruch Hu will help each and every one of us reach the highest levels in Torah, tefillah, and middos, and may we merit to bring honor to Heaven and the coming of the complete Geulah, speedily in our days.”

{Matzav.com}