New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker introduced the "Marijuana Justice Act" that would legalize marijuana on a federal level Tuesday.
Senator Booker introduced the bill during a Facebook Live stream:
Booker also wrote this in the Facebook Live post:
For decades, the failed War on Drugs has locked up millions of nonviolent drug offenders—especially for marijuana-related offenses—at an incredible cost of lost human potential, torn apart families and communities, and taxpayer dollars. The effects of the drug war have had a disproportionately devastating impact on Americans of color and the poor.
Today I’m introducing the Marijuana Justice Act, a bill that if passed will legalize marijuana at the federal level and go even further in an effort to remedy many of the failures of the War on Drugs. This is the right thing to do for public safety, and will help reduce our overflowing prison population.
Watch below as I outline the provisions of the bill in detail. I’ll also answer many of your questions - please leave them in the comments.
Eight states and the District of Columbia already allow recreational use of marijuana, and 29 states allow medical marijuana use.
According to Politico, the federal convictions for the use of marijuana and possession would be expunged. Any prisoner serving time for a marijuana offense would be entitled to a sentencing hearing.
