Senators Seek Removal of Cannabis From Federal Controlled Substances List

Decriminalization Would Allow States to Regulate as They See Fit, Begin to Remedy the Harm Caused by Decades of Racial Disparities in Enforcement, and Facilitate Valuable Medical Research

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, DC – Los senadores de Estados Unidos Cory Booker (D-NJ) y Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) enviaron una carta al fiscal general Merrick Garland instando al Departamento de Justicia (DOJ) a despenalizar el cannabis eliminando la droga de la lista de sustancias controladas federales. Bajo la Ley de Sustancias Controladas de 1970 (CSA), el Fiscal General puede eliminar una sustancia de la lista de la CSA, en consulta con el Secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS), basándose en la conclusión de que no tiene el potencial de abuso. La despenalización del cannabis a nivel federal a través de este proceso de desesquedulamiento permitiría a los estados regular el cannabis como lo consideren conveniente, comenzar a remediar el daño causado por décadas de disparidades raciales en la aplicación de las leyes de cannabis, y facilitar una valiosa investigación médica.

“While Congress works to pass comprehensive cannabis reform, you can act now to decriminalize cannabis,” wrote Senators Booker and Warren.

The vast majority of the country supports decriminalization of cannabis: approximately 91% of adults in the United States believe that cannabis should be legal for medical and recreational use, or for medical use only. To date, thirty-six states, four territories, and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for medicinal purposes, and eighteen states, two territories, and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for adult recreational use. These state-level legalizations have not caused spikes in traffic accidents or violent crime, or use by teenagers, paving the way for much-needed action at the federal level.

Decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level is a critical first step in addressing the racial inequities in cannabis law enforcement. Federal cannabis policy has disproportionately affected the ability of people of color in the United States to vote, to pursue educational and career opportunities, and to build intergenerational wealth. Moreover, decriminalizing cannabis is a vital step so that Americans seeking cannabis treatment options for conditions such as chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and certain terminal illnesses can legally use the drug.

“We urge the DOJ to initiate the process to decriminalize cannabis. Doing so would be an important first step in the broader tasks of remedying the harmful racial impact of our nation’s enforcement of cannabis laws and ensuring that states can effectively regulate the growing cannabis industry, including by assisting small business owners and those most harmed by our historical enforcement of cannabis laws,” wrote Senators Booker and Warren.