Tell Biden to Legalize Marijuana

Some people think the fight to legalize marijuana has already been won. Far from it. Despite marijuana being legal in more than 20 states, it is still illegal federally and one of the most commonly arrested offenses.

A vast majority of Americans agree that marijuana prohibition is ruining lives. Even President Biden agrees. But the steps he’s taken toward reform are nowhere near enough to ensure our communities are not harmed by marijuana prohibition.

He must end federal marijuana prohibition by descheduling it and support legislation in Congress to regulate marijuana, repair the harms of its criminalization, and reinvest in communities most impacted by prohibition.

Please tell Biden to legalize marijuana the right way – with equity and justice at the forefront.

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Dear President Biden,

Message Body

I was pleased to see you take steps toward overdue federal marijuana policy reform last year. Marijuana prohibition is ruining lives and most Americans like me agree it’s time to legalize it and repair the harms. But the steps you’ve taken alone, will neither fully end future harms of marijuana criminalization nor repair past harms. That's why I urge you to fully deschedule marijuana and support comprehensive marijuana reform legislation in Congress such as the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) that deschedules marijuana, repairs the past harms of prohibition, and provides a regulatory, framework for marijuana markets.

Marijuana must be fully removed from the CSA by descheduling it. Rescheduling marijuana to a less restrictive schedule in the CSA would do little to address the harms of federal criminalization. As long as marijuana remains anywhere in the CSA, the majority of the problems associated with its criminalization will persist.

Descheduling marijuana through comprehensive Congressional legislation is the preferred path to end and repair the harms caused by criminalization. The House of Representatives has twice passed comprehensive descheduling legislation, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, in 2020 and 2022, that contained automatic expungement, retroactive relief, and dedicated marijuana tax revenue to reinvest in communities harmed by discriminatory enforcement of criminalization. More recently, Senate Majority Leader Schumer along with Senators Booker and Wyden introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) in the 117th Congress. This bill builds off of the MORE Act and includes enhanced criminal justice reform, stronger protections for noncitizens, and a more robust regulatory framework. I urge you to use your influence to encourage Congress to pass comprehensive marijuana descheduling legislation that includes a well-thought-out plan for federal regulation and for implementing interstate commerce that is rooted in equity.

To end and repair the harms of decades of racially discriminatory enforcement of marijuana laws, we need complete and comprehensive legislative reform now. In the meantime, you can direct your administrative agencies to limit the collateral consequences and denial of benefits that can stem from a marijuana arrest.  This is not only the right thing to do, it is the popular thing as well. A Data For Progress poll found even in states where marijuana remains criminalized, bipartisan majorities support ending marijuana criminalization for personal use and sales.

Please do the right thing and stand on the side of equity and justice. Thank you!

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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