WASHINGTON Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) are teaming up on legislation to reform the nations marijuana laws and help victims of the War on Drugs, which disproportionately hurts communities of color.

The bill, titled the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, would decriminalize cannabis and require expungement of prior marijuana-based convictions on the federal level. Such proposals have been floated in the past and are supported by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Whats notable about this bill, however, is that for the first time the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee was involved in drafting such a measure.

Racially motivated enforcement of marijuana laws has disproportionally impacted communities of color. Its past time to right this wrong nationwide and work to view marijuana use as an issue of personal choice and public health, not criminal behavior, Chairman Nadler, a top ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), said in a statement on Tuesday.

A subcommittee of Nadlers panel held a historic hearing this month to seek input on how to reform federal laws regarding marijuana.