U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is leading the charge to end the federal ban on marijuana, citing the need for a more libertarian approach to the substance. Fetterman believes that individuals should be able to use marijuana without fear of judgment or punishment, as long as it is used in a legal, safe, and regulated manner.

Proposal Details

The proposed Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would remove cannabis from the list of federally controlled substances, allowing states to create their own laws and regulations. The bill has 17 co-sponsors, all of whom are Democrats. Fetterman believes that this proposal provides a wide range of benefits, including protecting public health and safety, promoting cannabis research, and prioritizing justice.

The proposal would establish a Center for Cannabis Products to regulate the cannabis industry, as well as programs and funding to prevent youth cannabis use. It would also require the Department of Transportation to create standards for cannabis-impaired driving and incentivize states to adopt cannabis open-container prohibitions.

In addition, the bill would regulate and tax cannabis, transferring federal jurisdiction over cannabis to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. It would also establish grants to build up cannabis research capacity at institutions of higher education, with a focus on minority-serving institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Fetterman’s call for marijuana legalization is not new, as he has a long record of supporting the issue. During his time as lieutenant governor, he led a statewide listening tour on the matter. However, not all lawmakers agree with Fetterman’s stance, including U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., who has expressed opposition to rescheduling marijuana.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.