Sanders Introduces Bill to End Federal Ban on Marijuana

Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (D., Vt.) introduced a bill on Wednesday that would end the federal prohibition on marijuana.

If passed, the "Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act" would not automatically legalize marijuana in all 50 states, but it would remove a federal prohibition on the substance that would make it easier to legalize the drug on a state-by-state basis without fear of federal interference.

The Obama administration has already directed federal law enforcement not to interfere with states that pass legislation legalizing marijuana for medicinal use, but the issue remains murky when it comes to states — including Washington and Colorado — that have legalized pot for recreational use.
The bill introduced on Wednesday would remove any concern of federal interference with regard to recreational pot use while still leaving in place a state's ability to ban the substance if legislators or voters wished to do so.

The measure is largely symbolic — critics say it's mostly designed to boost Sanders' appeal to young pot-enthused voters at a time when the senator is running for president — and lawmakers are not expected to pass the bill.

Source: GRASSWIRE