Social Workers Call On Biden To Fully Decriminalize Marijuana

Nearly 150 social workers have issued a call to President Joe Biden to remove marijuana entirely from the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), despite the administration’s proposal to downgrade the substance from Schedule I to Schedule III.

The letter, sent last week, stressed the urgent need for decriminalization, citing the disproportionate impact of marijuana criminalization on communities of color and the ongoing individual and collective suffering caused by prohibition, Marijuana Moment reported.

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"The criminalization of marijuana has torn apart families, with overwhelmingly disparate impact in communities of color," the letter states. "If marijuana remains scheduled under the CSA, the individual and collective suffering caused by prohibition will continue growing."

The Impact Of Criminalization

Social workers highlighted that under current laws, individuals convicted of drug offenses can lose public benefits, including welfare aid under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and access to housing.

"By virtue of our profession, we have witnessed the grievous harm that marijuana criminalization has caused," the letter asserts. "If marijuana remains scheduled, parents will lose their children, children will lose their homes, and beloved members of our households will be deprived of essential benefits."

Patchwork Of State And Local Laws

The letter also criticized the inconsistent state and local laws regarding marijuana, which have led to significant disparities across the country.

"While communities in legal states can build wealth from legal marijuana sales and benefit from regulations that ensure a safe, unaltered product," the letter explains, "other communities are subject to losing their homes, their occupations, their families, and their freedom over the same substance. The disparities in marijuana laws stand in stark opposition to the 88% of Americans who support legalization."

The letter revealed a startling statistic: "Approximately 80% of all children in the foster care system are removed from their homes for drug-related causes."

Calls For Executive Action

The social workers called on Biden to take executive action to mitigate these harms while supporting reform legislation in Congress.

"This is what our families need to thrive," the letter concluded, pointing out that the consequences of prohibition have disproportionately fallen on communities of color.

Mel Wilson, senior policy advisor at the National Association of Social Workers, highlighted the long-standing injustice. "Criminalizing marijuana has resulted in the arrest and incarceration of millions of Americans, mostly people of color, for many decades," he said in a press release.

"In its decision to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug, the Biden Administration is misguided if it thinks it is righting a wrong. On the contrary, such a rescheduling decision actually perpetuates an injustice. Therefore, social workers must urge President Biden to reconsider its current position by fully decriminalizing marijuana."

Advocacy For Descheduling

Chelsea Higgs Wise, executive director of the advocacy group Marijuana Justice, emphasized that rescheduling is insufficient.

"It doesn't address past harms and is a minimal effort considering the immense damage caused by the drug war," she stated. "Given that this move primarily benefits big business while doing little for those directly impacted by the drug war, some might even see this inadequate measure as an act of violence."

Montae Taylor, a coordinator at Marijuana Justice, expressed the importance of social workers’ support. "Their support for this petition echoes their unwavering commitment to justice and equality," Taylor said. "Their signatures are more than just names; they're symbols of hope and resilience."

Broad Support For Decriminalization

Several organizations, including the Drug Policy Alliance, National Cannabis Industry Association, Parabola Center, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, National Association of Black Cannabis Lawyers, Minority Cannabis Business Association, and Better Organizing to Win Legalization, back United for Marijuana Decriminalization.

Cat Packer, director of drug markets and legal regulation at the Drug Policy Alliance, urged supporters to submit comments on the rescheduling proposal. In an op-ed, Packer encouraged people to "weigh in on federal marijuana policy and demand an end to cannabis criminalization."

Public Response To Rescheduling Proposal

The Department of Justice is accepting comments on the rescheduling proposal until July 22. This period is expected to elicit significant responses from both reform advocates and opponents. Prohibitionist groups, such as Smart Approaches to Marijuana, are also mobilizing against the rescheduling, calling for formal administrative hearings and delays in the rulemaking process.

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