It’s a fact - cannabis is safer than alcohol. While potency may have changed over the years, the only “more dangerous” aspect of marijuana is that it is still illegal in many states. I believe that cannabis should be as easy and legal to grow as grapes and hops. The same government that trusts Americans to use alcohol responsibly should also trust Americans to use marijuana responsibly. 

More than 600,000 Americans - mostly young people and people of color - are arrested for marijuana violations each year. Of those charged, roughly 10% are charged with “sale/manufacture.” This category includes cultivation of cannabis, even when grown for personal or medicinal uses. The fact that annual marijuana arrests often outnumber the total annual arrests for all violent crimes combined - including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault - is staggering.

According to Pew Research, public support for legalization has risen steadily over the last 60 years. When asked about marijuana legalization in general, the majority of adults have expressed support for legalization.

As your senator, I will propose that cannabis be removed from the FDA’s Schedule 1 under the Controlled Substances Act, which will enable many states to legalize cannabis, as well allow the FDA to grant investigational permits for verifying the positive benefits of cannabis oil in treating children with seizures.