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Good News for legalization advocates as House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler works on his own separate bill.

By Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced at a press conference on Friday that he is aiming to formally file his much-anticipated bill to federally legalize marijuana in April. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), who also spoke, discussed progress on his separate legalization bill.

Both top lawmakers detailed their efforts to end prohibition at an event in New York City, which also involved House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), New York lawmakers and advocates with the Drug Policy Alliance and other organizations.

chuck schumer at marijuana justice event

Friday proved to be an especially eventful day for federal cannabis policy, as the House earlier passed a large-scale bill that contains the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act. It’s the sixth time that reform has cleared the chamber in some form.

“In the coming weeks, we’re ramping up our outreach—and we expect to introduce final legislation. Our goal is to do it in April,” Schumer said at the New York event. “Then we begin the nationwide push, spearheaded by New York, to get the federal law done. As majority leader, I can set priorities. This is a priority for me.”

Advocates were encouraged when Schumer first disclosed details about his Cannabis Administration & Opportunity Act (CAOA), which he unveiled in draft form for public comment in July, but they’ve grown impatient with his repeated comments in the months since that a formal introduction was coming “soon.” Now he’s set a target timeline, and the leader also separately said in a meeting with activists that he expects committee hearings on the proposal shortly after it’s finally filed.

 

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