Ben & Jerry’s Teaming with ACLU for Cannabis Reforms

In response to the U.S. Senate’s inaction on cannabis reform, ice cream giant Ben & Jerry’s is teaming up with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on April 20 to ask fans to pressure the U.S. Senate to pass reforms similar to the House, Marijuana Moment reports.

Ben & Jerry’s has used 4/20 in the past to raise awareness about cannabis but this effort takes aim at the body that has been holding up federal progress under both Democratic and Republican control – the U.S. Senate.

Fans and supporters are asked to submit a pre-written letter describing the patchwork of cannabis laws across the U.S. and the racially biased enforcement of those laws. Noting the passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act in the House, the pre-written letter says, “it’s time for the Senate to act.”

“The Black and Brown community have borne the high cost of cannabis prohibition and the system of mass incarceration that it has fueled, while white men reap the financial benefits of the legalized cannabis industry. That’s why the Senate must immediately pass legislation that begins to right the wrongs of the decades-long war on drugs by legalizing cannabis and expunging records while restoring equity to the booming legal cannabis industry.” — Chris Miller, Ben & Jerry’s Global Head of Activism Strategy, in a release

The U.S. House passed the MORE Act last week followed shortly after by the Senate claiming they would take the issue up this month. However, that timeline has already been pushed back, leaving activists to wonder whether the legalization reforms are likely to come this year. As for President Joe Biden (D), he has not come out in favor of the MORE Act but White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said he “agrees that we need to rethink our approach” on the issue.