Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) introduced a bill this week that would remove marijuana from the list of controlled substances and numbered it “H.R. 420” in a nod to cannabis culture.
The bill introduced Wednesday, dubbed the “Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol Act” calls for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive to be in charge of regulating the drug.
{mosads}”While the bill number may be a bit tongue-in-cheek, the issue is very serious,” Blumenauer told the Willamette Weekly. “Our federal marijuana laws are outdated, out of touch and have negatively impacted countless lives. Congress cannot continue to be out of touch with a movement that a growing majority of Americans support. It’s time to end this senseless prohibition.”
The “420” number in the bill is a reference to the date April 20, which is popular among pot enthusiasts.
As founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, Blumenauer has long been an advocate for changing federal marijuana laws.
Oregon was one of the first states to legalize recreational weed, and if the substance is decriminalized or legalized at the federal level, the state would be in prime position with a surplus of product and resources to support a growing industry.
Marijuana is currently considered a Schedule 1 drug by the federal government, meaning it has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
The classification groups pot along with other drugs such as heroin and LSD.
States such as Oregon and California have used the “420” tag on bills seeking to reduce regulations on marijuana.