Advocacy for the federal legalization of cannabis has expanded into the alcohol industry. Recently, the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America issued a letter publicly advocating for the legalization of cannabis under federal law.
“The fact is cannabis legalization at the state level is here to stay, as evidenced by nearly a decade of new legalization efforts and no meaningful effort to undo them. Rather, the states that have legalized are expanding their markets and even discussing ways to begin interstate commerce of the product,” the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America wrote.
“Yet they receive no support from the federal government in determining how to ensure that products are safe or that the market is fair—especially as that market becomes increasingly national in scope.”
The use of cannabis for medical purposes is legal in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis use of recreational use. In October, President Joe Biden pardoned all Americans incarcerated for federal offenses of simple possession of cannabis.
“As I often said during my campaign for President, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit,” he wrote.
“Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities.”
Despite pardoning all Americans incarcerated for federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana, the President has not firmly committed to supporting the federal legalization of cannabis.
