A man shows medical marijuana from a medical marijuana dispensary in Massachusetts in Salem.
Jonathan Wiggs | The Boston Globe | Getty Images
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday reiterated his call to legalize marijuana at the federal level, saying he hopes to see the end of the drug ban before 4/20 next year.
“Hopefully, the next time this unofficial holiday, on 4/20, our country will have made progress in resolving the massive overcriminalization of marijuana in a meaningful and comprehensive manner,” Schumer said on the floor of upper chamber.
Schumer said the country’s war on drugs “has too often been a war on people, especially people of color.”
“I think it’s time to end the federal marijuana ban in this country, and I’m working with Sens. Booker and Wyden on legislation to do that,” he said.
In February, Schumer and Sens. Cory Booker, DN.J., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Issued a joint statement that also called for restorative justice for people who have been convicted of pot-related crimes.
Senators said then that they would publish “a unified draft discussion on comprehensive reform” earlier this year and that passing legislation will be a priority for the Senate. The draft has not yet been published.
The House recently passed legislation that allows banks to work with cannabis companies in states where cannabis is legal, which was seen as a move to allow for more commercial and federal use.
This legislation is now awaiting Senate approval.
To date, 15 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use for adults and 36 states allow medical use of the drug.