“There are critical elements that are either missing or vague enough not to produce the transformative change needed to correct injustices,” said Solonje Burnett, co-founder of Humble Bloom, a cannabis marketplace and consultancy.

“I am encouraged that the drafters are calling this draft and formalizing the opportunity for feedback,” added Christine De La Rosa, Chair of the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Committee on Diversity, Justice and Inclusion.

But there are many positive aspects to the bill.

“[It’s] It is incredible to see the removal of the restrictions on medical research as well as unfair actions targeting marginalized, mostly black, brown and low-income communities in terms of government benefits, housing, education and adult consumption, “Burnett tells the plant for healing, access to federal banks and services, immigration protection, indigenous inclusion, automatic extinction, collection of demographic data for employment, property and conviction, and supposed benefits for outdated entrepreneurs for licenses and loans is long overdue.

The bill, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, falls short, says Burnett. If passed, those who own, produce, and distribute marijuana in states where it is legal would no longer face federal penalties. Currently, weed is legal in 18 states, Washington, DC, and Guam. and approved for medical use only in 20 states and the US Virgin Islands. Just as states and localities control the legality of alcohol, states would retain the right to control the legality of marijuana weed would remain illegal in states where it is illegal.

“I really have problems with states being able to implement their own cannabis laws. This destroys the ability to trade between states, continues to criminalize communities and those in the unregulated market, ”says Burnett. “If we leave these important decisions to the states, colored communities and underserved populations will lose. We see that right now with voter suppression, health care, LGBTQIA +, and abortion rights. 90 percent of Americans want legalization) when they obviously value businesses and profits over individual civil liberties. “

This bill also calls for the repeal of federal nonviolent cannabis convictions and allows petitions for re-convictions, while encouraging states and communities to do the same. It also prevents cannabis from affecting immigration status or eligibility for state public benefits such as housing or food aid.

“The devil is in the details and they have to dig deeper into the area of ​​reparative justice,” says Burnett. “Why are those currently incarcerated being forced to petition for reassessment rather than simply being released and assisted in their recovery? In the meantime, does the proposal give others the freedom to work in the industry right away? Those with nonviolent offenses should be removed from the cages immediately. “The plant will be removed from the controlled substances list.”

This proposed federal law to decriminalize weeds also aims to create a trust fund, financed from cannabis tax revenue, “to invest in the communities hardest hit by the failed war on drugs and to help create a level playing field for black entrepreneurs.” create”. The bill states that this reflects reparations-based legislation in Evanston, Illinois (the first city to provide reparations for its black residents), which is funded by cannabis tax revenue.

De La Rosa, who is also the CEO and co-founder of Los Angeles-based cannabis company The People’s Ecosystem, says reparations should play a crucial role in decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana.

“It is unfortunate that the idea of ​​’reparation’ is a charged term that often encounters negativity, but its definition is recognizing the injustice done to BIPOC and looking for ways to change it. That is absolute here necessary, “she says. “There may be uncertainty as to what form and form reparations take, but it is worth investigating because of the legacy racism has left in American society. Through this exploration, we begin to make amends for those who have been most affected. “Laws.”

Both Burnett and De La Rosa raised concerns about the level of taxation cannabis companies need to gain legal status.

“Small businesses are already struggling to meet government requirements,” says De La Rosa. “There’s a 50 percent federal cut through a small producer tax credit, but I’d like to see the federal government work with the states to make this more sensible.” Burnett adds that “elSmall business tax credit eligibility is insufficient. I would like low interest rates to give industry access and opportunity for those who do not have the privilege of being highly capitalized. “

This legislation would also make cannabis research easier to conduct. Currently, researchers studying cannabis must obtain approval from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are only allowed to use cannabis from government-approved manufacturing facilities, which are often very different from cannabis available for adults in and medical markets across the country. “As a result of these strict restrictions on cannabis research, potential health benefits or harm from consumption may remain unknown,” the draft law says. “Researchers have been prevented from studying the debilitating effects of THC in order to develop effective tests for cannabis driving, the effects of cannabis use on fetal development, and other crucial gaps in our national understanding of this widely used substance.”

“The one thing that the more moderate people can agree to is medicine,” says Burnett. “It’s the ingrained stigma that blocks holistic acceptance. Currently, 37 states and DC have legalized medical use, giving companies a chance to stay one step ahead of the legalization game. There is so much potential, the potential of the plant for mental, emotional, physical and it is high time to invest in research and this law would open the floodgates for discovery. “

For now, those discussions are likely to remain hypothetical, says Mary Pryor, co-founder of Cannaclusive, a company that works to give colored communities a stake in the cannabis industry.

“We are in a very partisan environment,” says Pryor. “Whatever was suggested, that [chance] it takes 10 Republicans to actually make it to the voting round or collect 60 votes for it. And so unfortunately, even with what it says in it, its focus on restorative justice and government intervention on cannabis, Republicans are quite libertarian when it comes to language, industry, orientation. This calculation will not go far. “

However, Pryor hopes federal legalization isn’t that far off, and hopes it goes hand in hand with meaningful restorative justice.

“Personally, I believe it will be legalized in a best three to five years,” says Pryor. “But what we don’t want is for Republicans to turn this into something that doesn’t even come close to talking about restorative justice.”

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