Contributor: Asia Mayfield
We’re only a couple of months into 2020, and we’ve already been deluged with political ads. The upcoming presidential race is on everyone’s mind – and rightfully so. Now that cannabis is legal in some form or another, in more than half of the states in the country, politicians can’t afford to stay silent on the subject. Let’s dive into the complicated world of weed politics.
Why Cannabis Will Be A Major Political Issue In 2020
Democrats
Democrats are loudly, overtly pro-cannabis. Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the frontrunners vying for the Democratic presidential nomination, famously declared: “We will end the destructive war on drugs… On my first day in office through executive order we will legalize marijuana in every state in this country.” It’s a stunning promise considering the federal government’s past treatment. Unfortunately, it’s not clear that it’s possible. The President does have the power to manipulate the Controlled Substances Act without Congress, but the process involves other members of the cabinet. Still, it’s encouraging. Former Vice President Joe Biden, a politician who is known for his lukewarm stance on cannabis, is now singing a different tune. “I think it is at the point where it has to be, basically, legalized,” Biden said during a February campaign stop. Biden is also a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.
See Also: New To Marijuana? Here’s How Cannabis Can Alter Your Mental State
Republicans
Marijuana politics are influencing Republicans, as well. “The genie is out of the bottle,” said Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) after successfully introducing a bill that allows banks to work with cannabis businesses. Although Republicans have long been associated with anti-cannabis legislation, the plant is now so widely popular among constituents, that it’s not politically viable anymore. The state-level cannabis business affects a lot of other industries. “The most compelling arguments have been centered around these secondary relationships,” American Bankers Association President and CEO Rob Nichols said. “It’s the local plumber, it’s the local electrician, it’s the attorney, it’s the accountant who are doing business with a cannabis grower or dispensary who are then having challenges associated with getting banking products and services.” That argument was enough to win The Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (SAFE Banking Act) bipartisan support in the House. The bill’s pathway toward law is far from clear, but the fact that overtly pro-cannabis legislation passed the House is historic. Republicans are not as gung-ho about cannabis as Democrats are, at least not yet. There are still dissenting voices lodged in the party.
See Also: Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Cannabis Sickness
The Current Administration
The Trump administration has had a mixed response to cannabis. President Trump’s first choice for Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, is famously anti-cannabis. He’s known for such gems as, “good people don’t smoke marijuana” and “I think one of [Obama’s] great failures, it’s obvious to me, is his lax treatment in comments on marijuana.” Despite these statements, the cannabis industry flourished while he was in office. President Trump has never personally advocated for or against cannabis legalization, so his own views are hard to tease out. Marijuana politics are tricky. However, there are a few actions we can look at. To start, let’s look at a trio of bills that went before Congress last May. All three of the bills were designed to make it easier for veterans to access medical marijuana. One allowed Veteran’s Affairs doctors to write a recommendation. Another was intended to fund a study on cannabis use amongst veterans. The last bill would have protected cannabis-smoking veterans from losing their benefits. The Trump administration opposed all three bills. Marijuana advocates also grew alarmed after President Trump released his 2021 budget proposal. The plan strips away protections previously afforded by the law. In other words, this amendment, known as the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment, prevented the government from using federal funds to attack state medical marijuana programs. Passed as a budget rider, the amendment needs to be renewed every year, as it has been since 2014.
See Also: These Cannabis Products Will Help You Sleep Better
According to Maritza Perez, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance: “Basically what we saw in the president’s budget was granting permission to the DOJ (Department of Justice) to go after legal medical marijuana programs… It’s not something that’s totally unexpected, and in fact it’s in line with this administration’s harsh views on drug policy.” However, activists and enthusiasts don’t need to throw in the towel just yet. The budget proposal is just that, a proposal. “I don’t think it’s going to be a huge uphill battle, just because this is something Congress has agreed with just in the past few years,” Perez added. “This is an area where I’d say the administration is definitely more conservative than Congress.”
If there’s one thing President Trump seems capable of, it’s pulling off a surprise move. Some analysts believe that he’ll legalize cannabis to win votes. Kris Krane, founder of 4Front Ventures, says: “There’s a potential X factor here… I still think there’s a plausible possibility that President Trump will come out in support of cannabis reform in 2020. Why? Because it would be a smart political strategy for him to do so.”
See Also: Most Efficient Ways To Eliminate The Smell Of Cannabis In Your House
Final Thoughts
Cannabis and politics go hand in hand in the West. If you care about your right to access cannabis, you should know what the people in power are doing. Americans of all political stripes support legal weed. It’s no longer a partisan issue. Whoever is sitting in Washington has no choice – they need to have a coherent cannabis policy. “Political change doesn’t start in Washington DC and trickle out… It starts with the grassroots and comes to DC from the ground up,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) said. “There is no reason for cannabis to remain a Schedule I drug… It is obvious to you and me. It is obvious to medical professionals. It is obvious to most folks other than that fellow who runs the Senate floor.” You can make a difference. Vote. Write to your Congressmen and Congresswomen and tell them that you support pro-cannabis legislation. Educate before you recreate.
