Bills that would legalize and tax marijuana at the national level, and provide opportunities for people convicted of federal pot crimes to clear their records, were introduced July 23, 2019, in Congress.
The companion legislation in the House and Senate were introduced by Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris of California and U.S. Rep. Jarrold Nadler of New York, the chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee.
“Times have changed — marijuana should not be a crime,” said Harris, who is running for president. “We need to start regulating marijuana, and expunge marijuana convictions from the records of millions of Americans so they can get on with their lives.”
The tax revenue from legalization would support job training, substance abuse treatment, literacy programs, and other services for individuals and communities hit hard by the war on drugs. Some of the revenue would also support programs designed to help “socially and economically disadvantaged individuals” start their own marijuana businesses.