Schumer calls marijuana laws “bigoted” as he continues fight for federal reform

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The Senate heavyweight continues to push for cannabis reform on Capitol Hill

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has made clear his thinking regarding ‘bigoted’ marijuana laws during a rally in New York this weekend. Schumer is pleased and is celebrating that a cannabis law was recently passed in his home state. This has given him enough impetus to do what he can to see that this is now reflected in federal law.

“What we’ve accomplished in New York is just the beginning,” Schumer said during a speech at the NYC Cannabis Parade & Rally on Saturday. “We’re going to transfer that energy to Washington.” Schumer has long already expressed that he has every intention of introducing legislation to legalize cannabis nationally and has also seen his Democratic colleagues Senators Cory Booker and Ron Wyden back him in a big way.

“We will introduce advanced, comprehensive cannabis reform legislation that will not only turn the page on this sad chapter in American history but undo the devastating consequences of these discriminatory and often bigoted policies,” Schumer said at the rally, however specific details of his proposal have yet to be revealed.

During the hearing, Schumer said he had a lot to do with pushing state lawmakers and Governor Andrew Cuomo to make state legalization a reality in New York, especially when it came to measures and provisions related to racial equity, including priority licensing for those most affected by the war on drugs and automatic expungement of criminal records for marijuana. As such, Schumer said it is essential that similar provisions should be in place when it comes to future federal legalization.