Sen. Cory Booker’s (D-NJ) bill to decriminalize marijuana throughout the United States has its first co-sponsor – Oregon Senator, Ron Wyden (D).
Significantly more than just a piece of pro-pot legislation, the bill signed by Sen. Wyden early Monday evening would remove marijuana from the federal government’s Controlled Substance Act (CSA) and effectively end prohibition.
Better known as the ‘Marijuana Justice Act of 2017,’ this critical piece of legislation must first successfully navigate America’s convoluted political process to become law. A Herculean lift given our current partisan divide, Booker’s bill must first pass the United States Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and ultimately receive President Trump’s signature.
Encouraged by Sen. Wyden’s support, Sen. Booker took to Facebook Live Monday to announce the Oregon Senator’s co-sponsorship.
In addition to removing marijuana from the CSA, Booker’s bill allows the federal government to withhold funding from individual states with high incarceration rates for marijuana possession. First introduced Aug. 1, 2017, the Marijuana Justice Act of 2017 provides a financial “carrot” or “stick” approach for those states with a history of elevated marijuana arrests, according to Booker’s legislation.
Per S. 1689, “ (1) IN GENERAL.- For any fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act in which the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, determines that a covered State has a disproportionate arrest rate or a disproportionate incarceration rate for marijuana offenses, the covered State – (A) shall not be eligible to receive any Federal funds for the construction or staffing of a prison or jail; and (B) shall be subject to not more than a 10-percent reduction of the fund.”
The bill also proposes expunging federal convictions for marijuana possession and provides a pathway for individuals currently serving time in federal prison for marijuana-related infractions to petition the court for a “new sentencing hearing.”
“Expungement Of Marijuana Offense Convictions.—Each Federal court shall issue an order expunging each conviction for a marijuana use or possession offense entered by the court before the date of enactment of this Act.”
While Booker’s proposed legislation faces some daunting opposition, many politicians are making their own political calculations as they head toward the midterm elections in 2018 and the presidential election in 2020.
credit:marijuana.com
