House Judiciary Committee Passes Marijuana Bill
The House Judiciary Committee passed a bill on Wednesday that would legalize marijuana at the federal level and remove weed from Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act. The bill includes a 5% tax on cannabis products in order to provide vocational training and legal support for those hurt most by the drug war. States would be permitted to run their own policies, meaning that they can place restrictions its use.
According to Congress.gov, the bill currently has over 50 co-sponsors. It now goes to the full house and, if it passes there, it goes on to the Republican led Senate, where it faces a tougher fight. Some Republican members have expressed concern that the bill has gone too far.
US regulators have repeatedly cited the disproportionate impact of the drug war on black and Hispanic communities. Many have argued that decriminalizing cannabis would help remove some of these inequalities.
