Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey reintroduced a bill in February that would legalize marijuana nationwide, expunge federal convictions and allow those prosecuted for use to petition the courts for shorter sentences. Booker first introduced the Marijuana Justice Act in 2017, but it was not taken up for a vote.
Other Democratic presidential candidates have offered support for the proposal, with New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, California Sen. Kamala Harris, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders co-sponsoring the bill.
Sanders has been a major supporter of marijuana legalization and introduced the Senate’s first-ever bill to end the federal prohibition on marijuana in 2015.
Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, who announced his candidacy earlier this month, and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also signed on to the Marijuana Justice Act’s companion bill in the House.
Though Booker’s proposal has support from a number of Democrats, it faces a tough road in the Senate. Last year, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he does “not have any plans to endorse the legalization of marijuana,” when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., introduced a bill that would decriminalize the drug.
Republicans hold a 53-47 edge in the Senate, although Democrats control the House.
from Viral News Reports http://bit.ly/2GuQosy
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