Senators Release Draft Marijuana Reform Bill, Setting Stage for Potential Congressional Action

23 July 2021
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Key takeaways:
  • On July 14, 2021, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) released draft legislation that would end the federal prohibition on marijuana.
  • The bill, dubbed the “Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act,” goes further than many previous reform efforts by comprehensively addressing FDA regulatory issues along with social justice, public health and tax issues.
  • Although it appears unlikely that the bill will be enacted, its provisions likely will serve as a basis for future negotiations regarding revisions to the federal regulatory framework.