The Chair of the United States Senate Finance Committee says that Democrats are “trying to recruit Republicans” to support descheduling marijuana, while saying that the move “ought to be a Republican Dream”.
At an event held today by the Last Prisoner Project, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) said Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats are “trying to recruit Republicans” to support their forthcoming Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), which would deschedule marijuana. The CAOA is being officially introduced on 4/20.
“I want you to hear what my message is”, says Senator Wyden.” I’m gonna say one word – Deschedule. Descheduling ought to be a Republican dream.”
Wyden quipped “Sometimes I think they’re only for states’ rights if they think the state is right.”
The CAOA would require the US attorney general to finalize rules removing marijuana as a controlled substance within 180 days, while placing a federal excise tax on state-legal marijuana sales.
The measure would also facilitate marijuana expungements, and it would establish a regulatory framework for legal marijuana. The Center for Cannabis Products would be established as part of the FDA, tasked with regulating “the production, labeling, distribution, sales and other manufacturing and retail elements of the cannabis industry”.
During the Last Prisoner Project event, Congressmember Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) said “Forces are aligned to be able to end this failed war on drugs and mobilize unprecedented support across the country. And, frankly, the Biden administration has been doing a little realignment, which I welcome. But it’s time to not just realign but get it done.”
