At the federal level, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug, treated the same as heroin and more strictly regulated than fentanyl, even though it’s been legalized in some form in 38 states. That’s absurd. It's unjust. And it’s hurting millions of Americans, especially people of color who’ve borne the brunt of the failed War on Drugs.
That’s why we need to pass the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) now. This bill is about more than just legalization, it’s about justice, economic opportunity, and aligning federal law with reality. It removes marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act. It expunges federal convictions. It empowers states to make their own decisions without the threat of federal interference.
But here's what makes CAOA different: it centers equity. It creates a tax system to reinvest in the communities most ravaged by criminalization. It lifts up small businesses instead of handing the industry to Big Tobacco and Wall Street. And it expands medical research and access for veterans, who’ve been denied vital care because of outdated laws.
Legal cannabis is already here. But unless we pass this bill, the same racist structures that fueled mass incarceration will keep on denying justice.
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