Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced legislation Friday that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level and establish “dedicated funding streams” for women and minority businesses to grow and distribute the drug.
“The time has come to decriminalize marijuana,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement. “My thinking, as well as the general population’s views on the issue has evolved, and so I believe there’s no better time than the present to get this done. It’s simply the right thing to do.”
Schumer’s legislation would maintain laws that prevent trafficking of marijuana across state lines in cases where the drug is legal in one state but not in a neighboring state.
It would also call for dedicated funding for “highway safety research,” to “assess the pitfalls of driving under the influence of THC,” and to develop impairment testing for drugged drivers.
The bill would also call for funding research into the health effects of using marijuana as well as whether it is effective for treating medical ailments.
Schumer’s endorsement of marijuana follows Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to bring up legislation that would legalize hemp, which is grown for industrial use and does not contain THC.
McConnell, R-Ky., plans a vote on the measure in the coming weeks.
Kentucky is one of the country’s top producers of hemp.
Also on Friday, D.C.’s nonvoting delegate, Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton, said she will introduced a bill and file an amendment to the House fiscal year 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill that would legalize use of medical marijuana in public housing, as long as medical marijuana is legal in the state. The bill would permit the use of medical marijuana in federally-assisted housing, including public housing and the Section 8 housing program.
Norton plans to speak at the third annual National Cannabis Festival in Washington on Saturday.
Norton pointed to polls showing 90 percent support for legalizing medical marijuana.
“Individuals living in federally funded public housing who are prescribed legal, medical marijuana should not fear eviction for simply treating their medical conditions,” Norton said. “Our legislation should attract bipartisan support because it also protects states’ rights.”
