117th Congress

On March 31, 2021, following New York legalization under the 2021 Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced he would soon introduce a federal bill to deschedule cannabis, similar to his 2018 Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act.^[1] Sources told Politico and other media that a draft of the bill would be introduced on July 14.^[2]

On July 14, 2021, Senator Schumer introduced a discussion draft of the bill.^[3][4]

On February 4, 2022, Schumer said the legislation would be introduced in the U.S. Senate in April of that year.^[5] Later in February, Schumer circulated a letter asking other senators to "join the process of perfecting" the draft, and for their support.^[6] The bill was said to be likely to be introduced by its sponsors on or around the unofficial 420 cannabis holiday, i.e. April 20, 2022,^[7] but it was later postponed to "before August recess".^[8]

The bill was introduced in the United States Senate on July 21, 2022 as S.4591.^[9][10] In addition to decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level, the bil would expunge federal cannabis-related criminal records. It would add new funding for law enforcement to go after illegal marijuana operations.^[9]

118th Congress

In a Dear Colleague letter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others announced plans to reintroduce the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act before April 20, 2024.^[11] Schumer announced the introduction of the bill on May 1, 2024,^[12] and it was enrolled as S.4226 that day.^[13]