Mike Johnson (R) is the new Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Reviewing his marijuana votes reveals that he has been a leader who consistently opposes reform, even on minor issues such as cannabis banking and the ease of conducting scientific research.
After several GOP conference nominees did not receive the necessary votes to be elected to the position, it took the Republican majority approximately three weeks to elect the speaker. Johnson was selected just hours after House Minority Whip Tom Emmer, R-MN, who had backed cannabis banking reforms and other reforms was chosen. Emmer then resigned on Tuesday in response to opposition from Donald Trump’s allies and former president. On Wednesday, Johnson, a lesser-known candidate, secured 220 votes to become the new speaker of the House.
It is difficult to assess his performance due to his unusually high absenteeism during roll-call votes. There is a pattern to his votes on cannabis, however. He has consistently voted for modest bipartisan reforms.
Johnson, vice-chair of the Republican Conference, voted against bills that would have protected banks who work with state licensed marijuana businesses in 2019. And 2021. This could happen sooner rather than later as Senate leadership works on advancing the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act (SAFER), which cleared committee last week, to the floor and then potentially to the House.
Even under a GOP-controlled Senate, leadership was not a major concern for supporters and stakeholders. McCarthy voted for marijuana banking reform so it was expected he wouldn’t stand in its way. Johnson’s approach to the issue is not clear.
He did cosponsor in 2020 a bill for coronavirus relief that included the SAFE Banking Act text, but he was part of the chorus of Republican Members who criticised Democrats for adding the cannabis language into the larger legislation.
He said that in 2020, “the bill mentions the words ‘jobs” only 52 times. But listen to this: it mentions cannabis 68 times.” “I am not being facetious here, but I wonder if the staff who wrote this bill was high when they put pen to paper.”
Nancy Pelosi liberal wishlist includes the word “cannabis”, more than “jobs” or “hire.” Legitimate Question pic.twitter.com/8e9k1mN6FV
Rep. Mike Johnson 15 May 2020
He also posted about the issue on social media multiple times, both from his official account and from the campaign account. He even suggested that the legislators and staffers responsible for writing the legislation were “high” at the moment.
The word “jobs”, however, appears 52 times in Pelosi’s 1 800-page bill. However, the word cannabis appears 68. You wonder if those who wrote the bill were high. https://t.co/Ya2BTpR5WT
Mike Johnson (@MikeJohnson 15 May 2020
What’s the priority of Speaker Pelosi at a time where small businesses are closing every day & Americans are losing their jobs?
It’s not marijuana that’s the problem.
Her first aid package included “marijuana”, more than “jobs”, & then this. This is nonsense. https://t.co/Ivxi84is9A
Rep. Mike Johnson December 1, 2019
Johnson criticized House Democrats for holding a vote in December 2020 on a marijuana-legalization bill despite the pandemic. He refused to vote despite his criticism. He did not vote when the bill was passed a second-time by the House last year.
Democrats refuse to work with Republicans for months to provide COVID aid to millions of Americans who are suffering.
Pelosi and the Democrats have scheduled votes this week on… a bill to legalize marijuana, as well as a ban against keeping tigers in captivity.
Rep. Mike Johnson December 3, 2019
In 2019, the newly-elected speaker voted against an amendment to a spending measure that would have protected all state cannabis programs from federal interference. He then failed to show up in 2020 to vote on this measure. Johnson voted against the bill that was signed into law later by Joe Biden to streamline cannabis research. He also voted no on an amendment to stop security clearances being denied to people based solely on past marijuana use.
The congressman also voted against amendements in 2019 and 2020 to relax restrictions on conducting studies on Schedule I drugs like marijuana and psychoactive substances or to express his support for their legalization. In addition, he voted for a 2021 anti reform measure that would remove protections from universities who research cannabis.
This is a breakdown on Johnson’s voting records for cannabis legislation.
Y = yes vote; N = no vote; NV = not voting
Some advocates have attempted to calm concerns over the impact of having an opponent of marijuana reform as the speaker of the chamber. They pointed out that legislation such as cannabis banking could be advanced in conjunction with broader vehicles, and expressed doubts about leadership’s willingness to actively undermine such proposals.
For marijuana advocates, however, the choice of a House member who has consistently opposed marijuana as opposed to multiple candidates that have voted for cannabis banking and research measures in the past is a disappointment, along with questions about how the future will be.
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