Headline RoundupJuly 14th, 2021

Senate Democrats Reveal Proposal to Decriminalize Marijuana

Summary from the AllSides News Team

Senate Democrats, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, unveiled a plan Wednesday to federally decriminalize marijuana. The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would remove marijuana from the federal list of controlled substances and create a tax system for sales of the substance; it would also allow appeals for those in prison for marijuana charges, and expunge federal nonviolent marijuana convictions. Schumer warned Wednesday that the bill is currently a "draft bill," and that it does not yet have enough support, but has majority support from Senate Democrats. The bill would need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster in the Senate. This comes after the U.S. House passed a bill to decriminalize marijuana in December.

The story received wide coverage from across the political spectrum. Outlets from the left and center tended to provide speculation on the bill's likelihood of passing the Senate; some on the right criticized Schumer's proposed tax system for marijuana. 

Featured Coverage of this Story

More headline roundups

More News about Public Health from the Left, Center and Right

From the Left

From the Center

From the Right