Senate Democrats propose legalizing cannabis at the federal level

Senate Democrats just unveiled a plan to legalize marijuana at the federal level. Their plan would take cannabis off of the federal controlled substances act and would make the minimum age 21 to purchase marijuana. For access to live and exclusive video from CNBC subscribe to CNBC PRO: https://cnb.cx/2NGeIvi

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed legislation Wednesday to legalize marijuana at the federal level, a move aimed at easing restrictive drug policies that have disproportionally impacted communities of color and the poor.

The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and introduce regulations to tax cannabis products.

The proposal would expunge federal records of nonviolent cannabis offenders and allow people serving time in federal prison for nonviolent marijuana crimes to petition a court for resentencing.

“This is monumental. At long last, we are taking steps in the Senate to right the wrongs of the failed war on drugs,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said during a press conference at the Capitol. Schumer unveiled the draft along with Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J.

The plan would also create an Opportunity Trust Fund from new cannabis tax revenue in order to invest in programs for communities most affected by the “failed War on Drugs,” according to a draft of the bill.

The plan to decriminalize marijuana will likely face a contentious battle in the Senate, as it’s generally opposed by Republicans and some moderate Democrats and has not received an endorsement from President Joe Biden. Schumer will require 60 votes, including at least 10 GOP votes, to pass it through the Senate.

So far, 37 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the medical use of cannabis and 18 states along with D.C. have legalized recreational use of the drug by adults. However, the drug remains illegal under federal law.

Public polling shows that nearly 70% of Americans support legalizing the drug.

“For decades, our federal government has waged a War on Drugs that has unfairly impacted low-income communities and communities of color,” Booker said in a statement. “While red and blue states across the country continue to legalize marijuana, the federal government continues to lag woefully behind. It is time for Congress to end the federal marijuana prohibition and reinvest in communities most impacted by the failed War on Drugs.”

» Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision
» Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC
» Subscribe to CNBC Classic: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCclassic

Turn to CNBC TV for the latest stock market news and analysis. From market futures to live price updates CNBC is the leader in business news worldwide.

The News with Shepard Smith is CNBC’s daily news podcast providing deep, non-partisan coverage and perspective on the day’s most important stories. Available to listen by 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT daily beginning September 30: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/29/the-news-with-shepard-smith-podcast.html?__source=youtube%7Cshepsmith%7Cpodcast

Connect with CNBC News Online
Get the latest news: http://www.cnbc.com/
Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: https://cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Facebook: https://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Twitter: https://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Instagram: https://cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC

https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-credit-cards/

#CNBC
#CNBCTV

50 Comments

  1. fire starter105 on July 24, 2021 at 9:01 pm

    It’s interesting democrats want to legalize drugs but attack lawful gun owners that are specifically protected by the Constitution. They don’t seem to understand what "shall not be infringed" means. I can’ understand why they want to destroy this country.



  2. Willie Weed on July 24, 2021 at 9:02 pm

    The bill won’t hit the floor for 6 months. Another 12 to go into effect. My Dr. just told me my cannabis card of 4 years I can’t have And get opioids for constant lifelong pain. I have to choose one. Needed this 25 years ago. HTFU!



  3. Prettygirl Mel on July 24, 2021 at 9:02 pm

    About time



  4. I Am Konner on July 24, 2021 at 9:02 pm

    Not getting passed, Manchin had a girlfriend named Mary Jane who smoked the Mary Jane.



  5. Alan Malcheski on July 24, 2021 at 9:03 pm

    States already tax non medical weed at 25%… they actually expect people to pay 50% tax on weed that the states are still controlling the supply of by limiting grow permits for, and over regulating dispensaries, doing pay to play backroom deals… what an absurd number of leeches it takes to sell a gram of weed, for twenty dollars. People are garbage. Anyone who doesn’t smoke weed should realise what these pigs are doing, whether they think weed is good or bad.



  6. Richard 303 on July 24, 2021 at 9:05 pm

    They just want to tax and regulate a plant.



  7. Alan Malcheski on July 24, 2021 at 9:06 pm

    Dirty leeches



  8. Bill White on July 24, 2021 at 9:06 pm

    It’s already triple taxed, adding more.



  9. Mike B on July 24, 2021 at 9:07 pm

    Buying MSOS stock as this will be the play for this year!!



  10. Quality Organics on July 24, 2021 at 9:08 pm

    Your allowed to choose whether to consume synthetic drugs, but yet its against the law to choose a natural one. Makes sense only to a fool



  11. AJ’s on July 24, 2021 at 9:09 pm

    I love the cannabis is being legalized come on we really don’t need more taxes that’s bs



  12. TORMEISTER on July 24, 2021 at 9:10 pm

    About time. Now that means I’ll just have to wait another two years for my State (FL) to legalize it for recreational use.smh



  13. Jacob Turman on July 24, 2021 at 9:13 pm

    Those tax rates are unbelievable.



  14. forclosedify on July 24, 2021 at 9:16 pm

    Get everyone high , then steal their car and freedom



  15. Flash Gordon on July 24, 2021 at 9:18 pm

    Legalized….ONLY IF YOU PLAY THEIR CORPORATE GAME….LOL



  16. Boss Redd357 on July 24, 2021 at 9:19 pm

    25 % damn



  17. Ashton Dotson on July 24, 2021 at 9:19 pm

    Call your representatives and demand legalization or there WILL be protests!



  18. Gordon Shumway on July 24, 2021 at 9:21 pm

    When was the last time you saw someone stoned shooting, killing innocent people, or fighting/arguing with loved ones/random people for no reason, the only thing I witnessed a stoned individual do was eat, sleep, and try cracking wise jokes, cause they thought they were a comedian all of a sudden 🙄



  19. U Pete giardini on July 24, 2021 at 9:22 pm

    it helps pain



  20. Eric W on July 24, 2021 at 9:24 pm

    I’m all for legalizing weed but those taxes are ridiculous and will cripple the industry



  21. Christine Inman on July 24, 2021 at 9:24 pm

    Whats happening with the cannabis STOCKS now!



  22. DRSmetal on July 24, 2021 at 9:26 pm

    The 168 dislikes are drunken idiots.



  23. gary harris on July 24, 2021 at 9:26 pm

    Shouldn’t have been made illegal to begin with



  24. Sir Loin on July 24, 2021 at 9:28 pm

    Corey Booker been using heroin since birth



  25. Andra Book on July 24, 2021 at 9:30 pm

    oh, go shove it…all you care about is government getting into the drug trade.



  26. Kaw Ly Ja on July 24, 2021 at 9:30 pm

    I’m a constitutionalist and I agree with the democrats on this issue. I’m 100% with you boys on this. Get it done damn it!



  27. Liberty Eli on July 24, 2021 at 9:32 pm

    Republicans will never allow it ever . Not 1 southern republican led state allows legal marijuana, Republicans just overturned the legal marijuana vote in South Dakota…..never gonna happen



  28. K H on July 24, 2021 at 9:39 pm

    HA! yeah they aren’t going to do it…



  29. Travis Berard on July 24, 2021 at 9:39 pm

    Maybe the demarcates will do something good for once



  30. Kevin Nocon on July 24, 2021 at 9:40 pm

    Ya weed is great every one in my appartment complex who smokes weed doesn’t go to work. it keeps every one happy. the people passing the laws dont even smoke. weed makes people complacent . they will just shut up and be happy. there are some successful people who smoke weed but not many. I’ve done every drug there is it’s still dope u dope . if ur happy at 15 a hr smoking weed good for u I make 23 and still struggle . we need to pass laws to make the cost of liveing cheaper not pass laws to legalize weed to make Americans shut up



  31. Parker Stanley on July 24, 2021 at 9:41 pm

    Everyone knew they wanted money off it that’s the only reason



  32. Aaron Kiker on July 24, 2021 at 9:41 pm

    And why wouldn’t you do this ?
    We have legalized the 2 most addictive and deadly substances known to man, alcohol and tobacco. It would be nice to have a harmless legitamite medical herb to relax to. This is a no brainer regardless of party



  33. Joseph Douglas on July 24, 2021 at 9:45 pm

    People & Companies will gladly pay a 25% tax- the amount of industry this opens up is so staggering that it’s worthwhile for all participants. Regulators, Testing groups, logistics & trucking companies interested in interstate transport, ancillary products, pharmaceuticals, food goods companies, cigar lounges & speakeasies – there are literally hundreds of billions of revenue connected to a legal market. On top of that- once legalization happens at the federal level, we will have an international trade block between us Mexico and Canada – and the geopolitical capability to compel Europe to follow suit. It’s going to be a trillion-dollar legal market within 48 months. People will gladly give the govt 25%



  34. BuddyAW on July 24, 2021 at 9:46 pm

    I saw Biden didnt like it for some reason



  35. Ray Freeman on July 24, 2021 at 9:48 pm

    I would pay more to not have to be paranoid. 💁🏼‍♂️



  36. SisAndBroTOYShow Collier on July 24, 2021 at 9:49 pm

    I’m not a war on drugs it’s a war on personal freedom keep that in your mind at all times….thank you.-bill hicks



  37. Timothy Topping on July 24, 2021 at 9:51 pm

    Who care that its saving the lifes of our veterans everyday no wait we gotta figure out how to make our great grandkids billionaires first!



  38. ISSAC IDOWATHEVERIWANT on July 24, 2021 at 9:55 pm

    I don’t smoke but is more better side alcohol drunk people is more stuped



  39. Mickey da Great on July 24, 2021 at 9:55 pm

    They should had been did this you know how much revenue they will bring in you know how many schools in the hospitals they can build 🤦🏾‍♂️



  40. GJJFan on July 24, 2021 at 9:55 pm

    I wish people would really understand the difference between legalization and decriminalizing. Because they are NOT THE SAME! One means it is legal like alcohol, tobacco, etc. The other means you can still face hefty FINES and it can be taken away from you.. Which one would you prefer? For me, it sure is not the latter.



  41. Alec matthew Ace on July 24, 2021 at 9:55 pm

    Is it legalization in Florida



  42. Ray Truck on July 24, 2021 at 9:56 pm

    Marijuana laws are one of the top ten reasons we hate the government. Taxes are another.



  43. Willie Weed on July 24, 2021 at 9:56 pm

    The bill won’t hit the floor for 6 months. Another 12 to go into effect. My Dr. just told me my cannabis card of 4 years I can’t have And get opioids for constant lifelong pain. I have to choose one. Needed this 25 years ago. HTFU!



  44. Webblz 900 on July 24, 2021 at 9:56 pm

    LETSS GOOO



  45. Jade Edwards on July 24, 2021 at 9:58 pm

    Finally. I never got it. Like people can get methadone or xanax to get high but can’t have a plant? I mean I get it pharmaceutical companies run the show and marijuana was seen as a drug minorities and the poor used but at this point it’s unjutsifiable for it to be criminalized while cigarettes remain legal smh



  46. Muhammed Shahmir Qureshi on July 24, 2021 at 9:58 pm

    Hurry up and just legalize it.



  47. James Tankersley on July 24, 2021 at 9:59 pm

    Please do this in my life time. Its sad my dad missed all of this. Its been a long time a coming!



  48. h20no on July 24, 2021 at 9:59 pm

    If they don’t I will just vote 3rd party from here on out screw them enough is enough



  49. Letti .1999 on July 24, 2021 at 10:00 pm

    Please please please please please please



  50. Derek Parkson on July 24, 2021 at 10:00 pm

    <.I güess you’ve heard about t.rading the canabis st0ck mark3t and it’s pr⏺fits made on weekly bas¡s ☺