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Harris to Introduce US Senate Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana, Expunge
Convictions

Reuters

   WASHINGTON - Democratic White House hopeful Kamala Harris will
   introduce a Senate bill on Tuesday to decriminalize marijuana at the
   federal level, erase past convictions and use funds from marijuana
   sales to invest in communities hit by the decades-long "war on drugs."

   Harris, a U.S. senator from California and the state's former attorney
   general, will be joined by Democratic U.S. Representative Jerrold
   Nadler of New York, who will introduce the bill in the House of
   Representatives. Both serve on the judiciary panels in their respective
   chambers that would hold initial hearings on the measure.

   A preview of the Harris-Nadler legislation was provided to Reuters by
   Harris' Senate office.

   "Times have changed -- marijuana should not be a crime," Harris said in
   a statement. "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."

   Harris' marijuana stances have evolved. In May 2018, the former
   prosecutor signed onto a bill by now fellow White House contender
   Senator Cory Booker to fully legalize it after previously supporting
   legalizing medical marijuana and decriminalizing past convictions.

   Nadler said in a statement that as U.S. states have legalized marijuana
   use, those with past criminal convictions "still face second-class
   citizenship" and the "racially motivated enforcement of marijuana laws
   has disproportionately impacted communities of color."

   Harris said their legislation, if passed, would be an "important step
   toward racial and economic justice."
   

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