Earlier this week, three leading advocates of cannabis reform stated that reform would be a priority in the new Democratic Senate in 2021, adding that they planned to release draft bills in the coming weeks to start a conversation about what federal policy changes would be made.
In a joint statement, Sen. Cory Booker, Senate Committee Chairman Ron Wyden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that putting an end to marijuana prohibition was necessary in order to end years of harm inflicted on people and communities of color across the nation as well as right the wrongs of the failed war on drugs; the trio noted that this still wouldn’t be enough.
Each of the legislators have championed federal legalization, stating that lawmakers should approve measures that will uplift individuals who have been unfairly targeted by the drug war, particularly now, as more states are moving toward legalizing the medicinal plant.
The legislators stated that they were committed to working together to present and advance broad marijuana reform laws that would not only abolish the destructive consequences of these discriminatory policies but also help move on from this sad part of American history. They added that the Senate would give precedence to the conversation on these reforms.
The senators stated that they planned on releasing a united discussion draft on broad reform to implement responsible regulations and taxes, protect public health and establish restorative justice measures.
Last year, a bill introduced to the House to deschedule marijuana federally was cleared. However, it did not advance to the Republican-controlled Senate. Democratic legislators emphasized that Democrats being the majority in the chamber is vital for any broad reform to be approved this year.
NORML Political Director Justin Strekal stated that after years of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell mocking and neglecting cannabis policy reform, it was encouraging to see Senate leaders coming together to rescind the cruel and senseless policy of cannabis prohibition.
Strekal added that legislators looked forward to engaging with communities that had been the most affected historically by criminalization, other organizations and Congressional leaders, with the aim of ensuring that the most comprehensive and strongest bill is drafted — a bill that would make it possible to right the wrongdoings of almost a century of federal marijuana prohibition.
In a press release, Rep. Earl Blumenauer stated that he was encouraged to see that the new majority in the Senate was prepared to make headway on broad marijuana legislation. Blumenauer, who is the co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, has spent decades working to put an end to cannabis prohibition.
Meanwhile, in jurisdictions where cannabis is already legal, different companies are introducing a variety of innovative products aimed at addressing the needs of the public. For example, L.A.-based Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) has a proprietary cannabis time-release system that helps patients benefit from their cannabis medicines delivered topically.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/GPFT
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