Adam Eidinger together with other D.C. marijuana advocates rallied on East side of U.S. Capitol Square urges congressional lawmakers to ease restrictions on marijuana use in area of Colombia and made another allegation of illegal marijuana smoking and resulting arrest, on capitol hill in Washington DC, Monday, April 24, 2017
Melina Mara | Washington Post | Getty Images
WASHINGTON. House is expected vote Friday on a law that would legalize marijuana nationwide by eliminating criminal fines for anyone who manufactures, distributes or owns this substance.
A law dubbed the “Marijuana Reinvestment and Exclusion Act” was passed in House last yearbut not move forward in Senate. The bill will also establish procedures for remove a criminal record from people records and introduce a tax on sale of hemp products.
tax would begin at 5 percent and eventually increase to 8 percent. Funding received from the tax will go into a fund to provide training, mentorship, and logistics.use treatment, legal aid, repatriation services and youth recreation programs. It would be also provide loans help small enterprises in a cannabis industry that is “owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged people”, a summary of account said.
This historical law one of the most important criminal justice reform bills in recent history,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California. in remarks on in floor Thursday is about measure.
Pelosi said the law will be implemented”justice for those who suffered cruel, unfair consequences of criminalization”, open up opportunities for people participate in industry and decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, “so as not to repeat the blunders of our past.”
Thirty-seven states and Washington DC have passed laws legalizing medical marijuana. with 18 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes, according to the National Conference of State legislatures. California has become first government legalizing medical marijuana in 1996. Pelosi emphasized changes made at the state level over in last several decades.
“Now is the time for federal government to follow suit,” she said.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., is working with Senators Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, and Cory Booker, D-NJ, will draft similar legalization legislation. in their chamber. perspectives for the adoption of such a bill in The Senate seems low because the Democrats need all of their members and 10 Republicans to overcome 60-vote barrier needed to move to final vote.
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