 A congressional committee is asking the President to speed up the review process for cannabis’ status on the Controlled Substances Act.
The group, called “The Congressional Progressive Caucus,” have issued their 2023 “Executive Action Agenda” in which they said the President should use his authority to see that these processes are being completed as soon as possible. That schedule review process is being carried out by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services. Officials from both those agencies have not given a specific timeline for when this can be expected to be completed, but they have both said that it will be done in a timely manner. Besides asking for the scheduling review to be expedited, they have also requested that the President see that guidelines for protecting state cannabis programs from federal interference are reinstated. They are referencing the Obama era “Cole Memorandum” which basically said the Justice Department should not put effort into enforcing federal cannabis prohibition laws in states with some form of legalized cannabis use. The U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland recently said the Department of Justice is currently in process of finalizing that new policy guidance. The President has not yet publicly responded to the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ request to expedite these issues, but he did issue his own proclamation this past week, declaring April to be what he’s calling: “Second Chance Month.” This is referring to people who were previously incarcerated, and who he believes deserve a second chance at creating a new beginning in society. While not solely focused on cannabis incarceration, he did specifically mentioned the negative effects of what he called, “the Nation’s failed approach to marijuana,” and pointed out that “Black and Brown Americans have been disproportionately arrested, prosecuted, and convicted;” and this has caused “unfair barriers to housing, employment, and education.” The President pointed out the steps his administration had already taken to pardon some federal cannabis convictions, and hoped his words would help bring attention to the need to help “people forge new beginnings … and [build] a safer and more just society.” Elsewhere in Washington, the U.S. Capitol Building will be hosting a first of it’s kind special cannabis policy forum on April 20th, or 4-20. The event will feature speakers such as the Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Senator John Hickenlooper from Colorado, Representative Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, and several more lawmakers. There will also be many cannabis advocates and experts, along with medical marijuana patients, who will all discuss the need for federal cannabis reform, with special emphasis on the need to include social equity in such reform. Ultimately, though, after Republicans took back control of the House following last Novembers elections, the chance of passing comprehensive legalization does look unlikely. However, there are still hopes that some form of banking reform could still pass. Comments are closed.
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