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11/02/2024 07:17:05 am

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Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Legalize Medical Marijuana Across America

Medical Marijuana dispensary in the US.

(Photo : Wikipedia)

A huge step towards the legalization of medical marijuana across America has taken a huge leap forward with senators introducing a bipartisan bill aiming to do just that.


While medical marijuana has been legalized in 23 states, the bill will give more legitimacy to the marijuana legalization movement.

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The bill is a bipartisan one, meaning that senators from both the Republican side and senators from the Democrat side introduced it; Rand Paul for the former party, Cory Brooker and Kristen Gillibrand for the latter party.

A joint statement from the senators called it The Compassionate Access, research Expansion and Respect States (CARERS) Act.

They add that the act will, "allow patients, doctors and businesses in states that have already passed medical marijuana laws to participate in those programs without fear of federal prosecution".

Overdue reforms, such as ensuring patients receiving the care that they need, will also be addressed in the act. This includes veterans receiving care from veteran's affairs facilities in states with medical marijuana programs.

If the bill is passed, marijuana would also switch classifications from schedule 1 or a harmful drug such as heroin, to schedule 2 which means that the drug has medical value.

Finally, the CARERS Act also prevents the federal government from interfering in the marijuana laws of the states. It would also stop the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) from closing any medical marijuana dispensaries.

Paul has been a long-time advocate for a more laidback attitude towards marijuana. In an interview last year, he explained that any drug is not a good thing. He also admitted that he doesn't want children to go to jail for them.

Dan Riffle, director of federal policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, said that the bill is a large step to reforming marijuana laws at the federal level.

Although the bill finds little to no support in the Republican side, pot advocates say that legalizing medical marijuana is a conservative value.

"Talking about reducing the role of government interference in our personal lives and enhancing personal freedom and autonomy, reducing government spending-those are all conservative talking points," said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws.

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