Schumer on legal pot: “Its the right thing to do”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, has recently changed his stance on marijuana in the United States and now believes it should be legal.

On April 20th of this year, Schumer unveiled a new bill aimed at decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level.

By removing marijuana from the dangerous drugs list, it would allow research to be done into the benefits of the plant in hopes of new medications and treatments for patients nationwide.

For years, research into the wonders of the cannabis plant has been ignored because of its status and even found itself in the same category as heroin and cocaine. No Medicinal value and highly addictive.

This legislation would also put the power back in the hands of the people. Every state would be allowed to vote on legalization and the parameters in which it would exist.

It would also create “dedicated funding streams”, which would make it easier for women and minority businesses to enter and thrive in the new legal cannabis market.

Why the sudden change?

In a statement written by Schumer himself, which can be found here, he is quoted as saying:

“A staggering number of American citizens, a disproportionate number of whom are African-American and Latino, continue to be arrested everyday for something most Americans agree should not be a crime. Meanwhile, those who are entering into the marijuana market in states that have legalized are set to make a fortune”.

Schumer then goes on to say

“This is not only misguided, but it undermines the basic principles of fairness and equal opportunity that are foundational to the American way of life.”

Schumer is not alone in this thought and several other high ranking Democrats have joined the legalization movement.

Needless to say, legal marijuana is on it’s way to New York.