1158 ET - Steven Hawkins, head of a newly formed trade group called the US Cannabis Council, tells WSJ he expects federal legislation that likely would seek to "deschedule" marijuana, or remove it from the federal government's list of controlled substances, to be introduced at least by early April. Such a move would further open up the US cannabis market and members of the new group include publicly traded pot companies like
Canopy Growth and Curaleaf. Hawkins adds the group has met with some 80 members of Congress and plans further lobbying efforts. A filibuster of a future decriminalization bill in the Senate could be an obstacle, he says. (micah.maidenberg@wsj.com; @MicahMaidenberg)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 11, 2021 11:58 ET (16:58 GMT)
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