Over a dozen Democratic members of Congress have submitted a resolution that recognizes the “moral obligation” for the United States to fulfill its promise to guarantee justice to all, in part through legalizing marijuana, establishing overdose prevention centers and expunging records related to drug use.
Ayanna pressley (DMA) is the main sponsor of this legislation. It proposes reforms that address systemic problems like mass incarceration and racial injustice, as well as addiction, homelessness, and addiction.
Cannabis is not the main focus of this measure. However, it is included in the section that calls for decriminalizing “behaviors and divert cases which do not require confinement”, in order to reduce prison populations in the country.
This should include decriminalizing drug addiction, homelessness and poverty, HIV status and mental health diagnoses, as well as legalizing marijuana. It also includes a decline in criminal prosecutions for low-level crimes such stealing and loitering, and expunging records of all drug-related offences.
Pressley is one of 16 co-sponsors. The resolution also notes that 30 percent or more of federal prisons are serving drug sentences.
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The report states that people with substance abuse disorders are more likely to overdose when jails or prisons prohibit drugs like methadone and buprenorphine.
It also calls for the repeal of the 1994 Crime Bill which was promoted by Joe Biden when he served in the Senate. This bill instituted punitive policies on drugs. The new resolution states that the measure should be “replaced with a holistic, community-led agenda for public health and safety.”
Co-sponsors include Reps. Jamaal Bush (D) (MO), Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (NY), Ilham Omar, (MN), Rashid Tlaib, (MI), Earl Blumenauer and (OR), Barbara Lee.
The section entitled “However” emphasizes the fact that the Federal Government is required to rebuild the American Legal System in order for it to be smaller, safer, more humane, and less punitive.
This is the second session in which the legislation was introduced. The list of co-sponsors is similar. The previous versions of the resolution did not reach hearings or votes. It is unlikely that this Congress will move forward with Republicans controlling the House, and without any GOP cosponsors.
In April, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) did say that he plans to reintroduce a comprehensive measure to end federal prohibition. Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (DNY) said in April that he planned to introduce a comprehensive measure that would end federal prohibition. However, the expectation is that under a divided Congress only incremental reforms like a bipartisan Cannabis Banking Bill–perhaps adding expungements or other incremental reforms to the bill–will have a chance to pass.
The House also unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday that expressed support for Americans imprisoned in Russia, including a U.S. Citizen who is currently serving a 14 year sentence due to possession of medical marijuana he legally obtained in Pennsylvania.
Congressional Cannabis Caucus leaders react to Marijuana scheduling update from top Biden official
Photo by Brian Shamblen.
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