Tell Congress to Deschedule Marijuana to End Federal Criminalization
The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) was recently reintroduced in the Senate. This bill would provide the comprehensive reform we need by fully descheduling marijuana by removing it from the CSA.
The CAOA would also begin to repair the damage of marijuana criminalization by creating programs to promote employment, health education, reentry, and more. And it would protect marijuana workers, ensure small businesses and entrepreneurs can participate and benefit from legal markets, and further expand research into marijuana’s health risks and benefits.
While The Trump administration recently issued a partial order to move some marijuana products from Schedule I (the most restrictive placement) to Schedule III (a less restrictive placement) on the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), and is still considering broader rescheduling -- we know this half-measure is not enough.
A Schedule III placement comes with some benefits, including tax relief for businesses and some research barriers being lifted. But Schedule III would maintain federal criminalization, meaning arrests and barriers to jobs, housing, and SNAP food benefits would continue. Descheduling marijuana is the only way to end federal criminalization and ensure marijuana laws are grounded in public health, safety, and reinvestment.
That is why we are urging senators to support the CAOA to finally put an end to the failed policy of federal marijuana criminalization. Contact your Senator today.
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