Bill to Legalize Marijuana, Expunge Marijuana Crimes, Introduced in U.S. Senate
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today introduced The Marijuana Justice Act of 2017, which would legalize marijuana on the federal level by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act.
The Marijuana Justice Act also incentivize states to end the racially disparate criminalization of marijuana consumers through federal funds, expunges federal marijuana possession and use crimes, allows individuals currently serving time in federal prison to petition a court for a resentencing, and creates a community reinvestment fund to invest in communities most impacted by the drug war. The measure allows the money to go towards programs such as job training and reentry services.
“Not only is it imperative we end our failed experiment of marijuana prohibition, we must also ensure justice for those who suffered most under these draconian policies,” says NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri, “We applaud Senator Booker for introducing this robust legislation that would not only remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, but provide a path forward for the individuals and communities that were most disproportionately targeted by our nation’s failed war on marijuana consumers.”
According to a Quinnipiac University Poll released in March, 59% of voters in the U.S. are in support of legalizing marijuana,