Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the long-awaited federal legalization bill the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA).
Committee Chairs Patty Murray (D-WA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) are also co-sponsoring the bill.
The CAOA removes cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, ending the threat of federal prosecution for possession and licensed commercial activity. The Senators said it allows states to implement cannabis policies free of federal interference.
However, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act imposes federal control of cannabis. It funds police enforcement against the underground market and mandates a tracking system, among other controls. Furthermore, the bill regulates cannabis by giving the FDA and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) control. They will then impose a federal regulatory scheme.
It remains to be seen which parts of the industry will benefit the most from the nuances of federal regulation. Radio, for example, is heavily regulated, and it’s very difficult to enter the market with a new station.
Congressional Legalization Details
The new federal legalization bill would impose a federal tax of 5-25% on cannabis. That would be on top of the already-hefty state taxes imposed on the industry. The rate concerns advocates for small cannabis businesses and equity operators.
The CAOA would eliminate the problems facing regulated cannabis companies. Like the lack of access to financial services and the inability to deduct business expenses when filing federal taxes. The lack of uniform national regulatory standards and guidelines would also be addressed.
The legislation also directs funding to reinvest in communities disproportionately impacted by prohibition. It also helps improve diversity and inclusion in regulated cannabis markets.
“With strong restorative justice provisions for communities impacted by the drug war, support for small cannabis businesses, and expungement of federal cannabis offenses. This bill reflects long overdue, common-sense drug policy,” said Booker. “The support that we have received from committee chairs and outside groups underscores the historic nature of this bill. And the urgent need for Congress to pass it.”
Cannabis Legalization Progress
“The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act will be a catalyst for change. By removing cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances, protecting public health and safety, and expunging the criminal records of those with low-level cannabis offenses, providing millions with a new lease on life. Congress must act by working to end decades of over-criminalization,” said Schumer.
“Not only do the overwhelming majority of American people support legalization, they now live in a state where some form of cannabis is legal,” said Wyden. “The federal government is empowering the illicit cannabis market. It’s ruining lives and propping up deeply rooted racism in our criminal justice system. It’s holding back small cannabis businesses from growing and creating jobs in their communities. Cannabis legalization is here, and Congress needs to get with the program.”
“This legislation is about justice, strengthening our economy, and bringing the federal government into the 21st century,” said Murray.
“This legislation makes important changes to bring federal cannabis policy in line with where the majority of the country already is. In line with what Michiganders have already voted for,” said Peters.
The CAOA was first released as a discussion draft last year, alongside a request for comments from stakeholders. After receiving more than 1,800 comments and working with other Senators, they refined and expanded the initial proposal.
Schumer, Booker, and Wyden have been promising to introduce the bill since November 2020. That was when it became clear they would control the U.S. Senate for the next two years. There has been a lot of talk and promises made about the bill.
The midterms are in November, and Congress goes into recess at the end of July. Thus, there is not a lot of time for this bill to pass the Senate.
Federal Legalization Reflection
“The vast majority of Americans support comprehensive cannabis policy reform. Now is the time to figure out how to do that in a way that effectively addresses the damage done to marginalized communities. And creates equitable opportunities in the burgeoning cannabis industry,” said NORML Political Director Morgan Fox.
“This introduction marks a tectonic advancement in the movement to end marijuana criminalization, with a credible pathway to ending the 80-year failed experiment of prohibition,” BOWL PAC Founding Organizer Justin Strekal said.
“The CAO Act represents a giant leap forward in federal cannabis policy by outlining the most meaningful solutions to address issues facing minority cannabis businesses we’ve seen in a federal legalization bill to date,” said Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) President Kaliko Castille said.
The MCBA is pleased to see its feedback reflected in the bill, including timely funding of equity programs through appropriations, improved access to SBA funding, improved funding and support for minority cannabis businesses, and prioritizing cannabis research in minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“So often, industry equity and economic justice are afterthoughts or accessories to cannabis legalization. The CAO Act affirms that help to ensure those most impacted by prohibition must play a foundational role in cannabis reform,” said MCBA Executive Director Amber Littlejohn.
“We applaud the authors of this legislation for working to bring federal law into harmony with the states and the vast majority of voters who have called for an end to prohibition,” said Aaron Smith. He is co-founder and chief executive officer of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA).
