Pot decriminalization, tax revenue proposed at federal level

A new proposal to decriminalize and tax marijuana at the federal level has been introduced in Congress.

The bill introduced Tuesday has high-profile sponsors in Sen. Kamala Harris of California and U.S. House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York, both Democrats.

The proposal would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, authorize federal taxes on state-level marijuana sales and create a process to expunge past federal pot convictions.

The tax revenue would be used to generate funds for job training, substance abuse treatment, literacy programs and other services.

While the bill faces major obstacles with Republicans, Nadler’s sponsorship means it could get a House hearing.

The presidential candidate Harris says the effort reflects changing attitudes about marijuana. She calls it an important step toward racial and economic justice.