By Christiano Lima, Politico
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Thursday that he would introduce legislation to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, marking a significant shift in policy for the Democratic leader and lending the movement to lower government barriers to the drug a powerful ally.
“I believe that the States should continue to be the labs of democracy when it comes to recreational & medical marijuana,” Schumer tweeted in January. “Jeff, this is one place where states’ rights work. Let each state decide.”
The top congressional Democrat told VICE News in an interview set to air Thursday night that legislation to increase access to marijuana is “long overdue” and that far “too many people” have been affected by the government’s crackdown on the drug. [ READ MORE ]