A bill fully legalizing marijuana was announced Tuesday by Sen. Cory Booker, a measure that butts heads with a Department of Justice that is putting a renewed emphasis toward the war on drugs.The New Jersey Democrat introduced the "Marijuana Justice Act" over a Facebook Live stream. The bill legalizes marijuana on the federal level, allows people in prison for marijuana-related crimes to be re-sentenced and automatically expunges federal marijuana use and possession crimes.It also incentivizes states through federal funding to change marijuana laws if the state disproportionately arrests or jails low-income individuals and people of color for marijuana-related offenses."For decades, the failed War on Drugs has locked up millions of nonviolent drug offenders — especially for marijuana-related offenses — at an incredible cost of lost human potential, torn apart families and communities, and taxpayer dollars," Booker said in the Facebook post. "The effects of the drug war have had a disproportionately devastating impact on Americans of color and the poor."This is the right thing to do for public safety, and will help reduce our overflowing prison population."Attorney General Jeff Sessions has come out strongly against marijuana, rolling back Obama-era rules easing punishments for offenders, and the bill has a small chance of passing the GOP-controlled Congress. Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a similar piece of legislation that died in 2015.Eight states and the District of Columbia already allow recreational use of marijuana, and 29 states allow medical marijuana use.An April poll from Quinnipiac found 60 percent of voters support legalization of marijuana."This bill is the most ambitious marijuana bill we have seen in Congress," Queen Adesuyi, Policy Associate at the Drug Policy Alliance, said in a release. "Uniquely, it recognizes the fact that people of color have borne the brunt of the failed war on drugs and seeks to repair the damage done. We applaud Senator Booker for his leadership on this issue."

A bill fully legalizing marijuana was announced Tuesday by Sen. Cory Booker, a measure that butts heads with a Department of Justice that is putting a renewed emphasis toward the war on drugs.

The New Jersey Democrat introduced the "Marijuana Justice Act" over a Facebook Live stream. The bill legalizes marijuana on the federal level, allows people in prison for marijuana-related crimes to be re-sentenced and automatically expunges federal marijuana use and possession crimes.

It also incentivizes states through federal funding to change marijuana laws if the state disproportionately arrests or jails low-income individuals and people of color for marijuana-related offenses.

This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

"For decades, the failed War on Drugs has locked up millions of nonviolent drug offenders — especially for marijuana-related offenses — at an incredible cost of lost human potential, torn apart families and communities, and taxpayer dollars," Booker said in the Facebook post. "The effects of the drug war have had a disproportionately devastating impact on Americans of color and the poor.



"This is the right thing to do for public safety, and will help reduce our overflowing prison population."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has come out strongly against marijuana, rolling back Obama-era rules easing punishments for offenders, and the bill has a small chance of passing the GOP-controlled Congress. Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a similar piece of legislation that died in 2015.



Eight states and the District of Columbia already allow recreational use of marijuana, and 29 states allow medical marijuana use.

An April poll from Quinnipiac found 60 percent of voters support legalization of marijuana.

"This bill is the most ambitious marijuana bill we have seen in Congress," Queen Adesuyi, Policy Associate at the Drug Policy Alliance, said in a release. "Uniquely, it recognizes the fact that people of color have borne the brunt of the failed war on drugs and seeks to repair the damage done. We applaud Senator Booker for his leadership on this issue."

