Senate Leader Schumer, along with Senators Cory Booker and Ron Wyden have released the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) to end federal marijuana prohibition and support programs to expunge precious criminal records and support small businesses getting licensed in the emerging legal market.

The federal criminalization of cannabis harms our communities. According to the most recent arrest data, an American is put into handcuffs for a marijuana offense every 90 seconds. Per the ACLU, Black Americans are nearly 4 times more likely to be arrested than their white counterparts, despite similar consumption rates.

Maintaining marijuana prohibition flies in the face of voters, who consistently support legalization. Majorities of Democratic, Independent, and Republican voters all support the legalization of marijuana. Where marijuana legalization has been on the ballot, it has won, often overwhelmingly.  

In April, the House of Representatives already passed their own bill to legalize marijuana called the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, and much of that bill has been included in this new Senate effort. Building upon the progress of MORE, the CAOA includes enhanced provisions for highway safety, veterans healthcare, youth use prevention, and many other important public safety elements associated with comprehensive marijuana policy reform.

Legalization cannot wait and only together we will win. With this introduction, it marks the first time in US history that the Leader of a chamber of Congress has put forward a plan to end marijuana prohibition. We cannot lose momentum. Please, sign your name and join our grassroots coalition in delivering legalization.