On Friday the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level in an effort to reduce judicial racism that Black and minorities face in regards to disproportionate incarcerations. The measure gained bipartisan support with a 228-164 vote and was the first time in history that either chambers of Congress validated a legislation of it’s kind. Details of the proposal included removing marijuana from the list of federally controlled substances and expunging federal convictions for non violent marijuana offenders. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act was created to “reverse the failed policy of criminalizing marijuana on the federal level and would take steps to address the heavy toll this policy has taken across the country, particularly communities of color” according to Jerrold Nadler the Judiciary Committee Chair. The measure is NOT law until it is also approved in the Senate where it is expected to fail at. Is this bill about curbing systemic racism or gaining positive press for the House after repeated failed stimulus negotiations in the midst of “communities of color” and the rest of America suffering due to the ongoing pandemic?
BY: BEWITTY Staff
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