Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to End Federal Ban of Marijuana

Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to End Federal Ban of Marijuana

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues to reintroduce legislation that would end the harmful federal prohibition of cannabis by removing cannabis from the list of federally controlled substances and empowering states to create their own laws.

The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would take a historic step toward fixing the failed policies of the War on Drugs, and would help federal law better reflect the will of the vast majority of Americans who believe cannabis should be legalized for either recreational or medical use.

"The only reefer madness I'm seeing is the continued federal prohibition of cannabis," Wyden said. "Our legislation is the most comprehensive proposal on the books to end federal cannabis prohibition while keeping public health and safety front and center. The federal government needs to get with the times, and our bill is the way to do it."

Wyden has long fought to end the federal prohibition on cannabis and build a safe, regulated national market. Beginning in 2017, Wyden partnered with U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., to introduce the "Path to Marijuana Reform," establishing a comprehensive framework to deschedule cannabis, grant tax equity to small businesses, and ensure fair banking access. As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Wyden co-authored and introduced the landmark Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act alongside Senate leadership to eliminate federal economic hurdles and modernize tax policy for state-sanctioned cannabis enterprises.

Wyden has also consistently championed restorative justice measures that expunge nonviolent federal cannabis records and reinvest federal resources into communities historically and unfairly targeted by the War on Drugs.

The legislation reintroduced today was co-led by Wyden, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Ed Markey, D-Mass., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Peter Welch, D-Vt.

A summary of the bill is here.

The full text of the bill is here.