John,

At the end of last year, the House of Representatives passed the historic Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. It, of course, died immediately in Mitch McConnell's Senate even though many Republican Senators support legalization.

Thanks to your hard work nationwide last November and the Georgia Run-Offs this year, Mitch is no longer in control. And now, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden and Sen. Cory Booker have released a joint statement saying ending the prohibition on marijuana “is necessary to right the wrongs of this failed war and end decades of harm inflicted on communities of color across the country.”

Obviously, they're right.

Let's be clear, the failed "War on Drugs" was never about fighting drugs. It was always about oppressing communities of color. For example, Black Americans are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana charges than white people. And even though Black people only account for 12.5 percent of all substance users, they make up 30 percent of all drug-related arrests.

It's time to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level, expunge low-level marijuana arrests, and begin the process of undoing a failed war on drugs that has been used to criminalize communities of color.

Help DFA pass the MORE Act and elect leaders nationwide who will fight to end the racist drug war now.

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In 2020 alone, states controlled by Republicans and Democrats, including South Dakota, Arizona, Montana, and New Jersey, joined 11 other states in legalizing the recreational use of cannabis.

Yet the federal government still classifies it as a dangerous Schedule 1 drug and thousands of Americans remain incarcerated nationwide, including in states that have already legalized it.

The MORE Act goes beyond decriminalizing marijuana with important provisions focused on empowering and repairing communities of color ravaged by unequal enforcement, including a 5% tax on cannabis products with revenues deposited into a trust fund specifically designated for communities most harmed by the war on drugs.

In a joint statement, Senators Schumer, Wyden, and Booker made clear their intention to make these reforms a priority this year:

“We are committed to working together to put forward and advance comprehensive cannabis reform legislation that will not only turn the page on this sad chapter in American history, but also undo the devastating consequences of these discriminatory policies.”

We can make this happen. We can take a giant step forward in the fight to end the drug war and begin to repair the decades of damage done by this racist policy. But we can't do it without your support. Please contribute now and fuel DFA's campaign to win >>

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We fight to elect leaders who are working to end racial discrimination and white supremacy in America. Ending America's racist "War on Drugs" would be a giant step forward.

Thank you for everything you're doing to make it happen.

- Molly

Molly Goldberg
Development Manager
Democracy for America