Senate bill would take marijuana off federal controlled substances list By Stephanie Weaver Legalizing marijuana: Senate Democrats bill to decriminalize cannabis Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Democrats have drafted a bill, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. Joined by Sens. Corey Booker, D-N.J., and Ron Wyden, D-Wyo., Schumer said the bill would remove federal penalties on cannabis, expungement of nonviolent federal cannabis-related criminal records and letting states decide whether to legalize the drug. LOS ANGELES - U.S. Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer announced legislation Wednesday to legalize marijuana at the federal level and remove marijuana from the federal list of controlled substances.