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For Democrats, this could mean that they would be unlikely to reap the sole political rewards for any efforts on marijuana policy. Lucky for them, many in the partyincluding the president himselfare desperate to notch bipartisan wins. Passing a bill in Congress would almost certainly garner sizable support from Republicans as well as Democrats and possibly even more than the infrastructure bill that was signed into law last month. There are several options. The most promising is the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, a bill being pushed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker, and Ron Wyden that builds on a legalization bill passed by the House last year. (There are also several other, less ambitious legalization bills floating around, including the MORE Act.) Unfortunately, a frosty reception from some Democrats, a lack of enthusiasm from Senate Republicans, and the continued existence of the filibuster means that these efforts have stalled outfor now. The bully pulpit, plus the midterm elections, could revive them.

There are other options, however. Mace is pushing a bill that would decriminalize marijuana, while Joyce has one that would reform the federal governments incredibly outdated marijuana policies. Given the general sense of inertia in Congress, there are other less far-reaching but still important things the Biden administration could do. The Cole memo, issued by Eric Holder in 2013 and revoked by Jeff Sessions five years later, instructed U.S. attorneys not to enforce federal marijuana laws. That memo could be reinstated and even expanded to other departments. Biden could offer clemency to people currently imprisoned for nonviolent cannabis-related offenses and pardons for them and those who have been released.

All of this would be better politically and morally, and in policy terms, than what Democrats are doing now. You would think that President Biden would embrace legalization, considering where his constituents are on this issue, Lindsey told me. Theres really no question [about] the level of support that they have, and yet the president seems to be AWOL. After a year ending with political and legislative inertiaand with Bidens tanking poll numbers, particularly among young peoplemarijuana policy would be the perfect place to start.

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Legalize It, Already! - The New Republic