Rep. Dean Phillips, , a Democratic presidential candidate for 2024 who is challenging the incumbent in the primary election. Phillips believes that President Joe Biden needs to smoke marijuana in order to understand the “horribly hypocritical” standard of the United States. People can drink alcohol and even work at the White House while facing possible imprisonment because they use cannabis.
Phillips, at a New Hampshire town hall last week, noted Ohio’s recent vote ending marijuana prohibition and contrasted that with Biden’s continued opposition to legalization for adult use. The congressman claimed that he is “sure” Biden has never smoked weed.
Phillips stated, “I think he should”, because he’d find it hypocritical to drink half a gallon of Jack Daniels and then report to work at his White House, but if you were caught eating a [cannabis] gum, you would be fired or even jailed for violating federal law.
He reiterated, “But there’s no problem for the person who drinks half a gallon of Jack Daniels in the morning and goes to the White House.” “It’s hypocritical. It’s nonsensical. “We have to change the mindset of too many people who are out of touch, so old, and so ignorant.
The White House was criticized for its decision early on in the Biden Administration to fire or punish staffers who had admitted to previous marijuana use during their background checks. The White House tried to minimize the situation, claiming that no one was terminated for “marijuana use from years ago,” and that nobody was terminated due to “casual or infrequent marijuana usage during the previous 12 months.”
Phillips has consistently supported drug policy reforms in Congress. He announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president late last month. Phillips has supported federal marijuana legalization and pushed for the Biden administration’s relief of those who have been criminalized because they used cannabis. He also advocated research into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.
The congressman also mentioned this policy during his town-hall event. He said he has spoken with veterans “whose lives were improved dramatically by microdosing psilocybin – and right now, we can’t test it.”
While numerous federal health officials have argued that the Schedule I status of psychedelics and marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) imposes serious access barriers that’s stymied research into their therapeutic potential, it is possible under the current regulatory framework to test them, as a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) official recently testified in a first-ever congressional hearing on psychedelics-assisted therapy for veterans.
“Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug in the United States of America. It is similar to heroin.” “It’s absurd,” Phillips said. “But it’s your federal government with people who think this is fine.”
He said he was thankful that the Ohio marijuana initiative or the separate abortion rights measure that passed on the ballot last weekend were not decided by politicians.
He said, “I’m here today to tell you that I believe you should be important–not some damn people in Washington, D.C., who think they are better informed, should matter.” “I want to give you all that power back, and I’ll do it with a fierceness. I will do it gracefully. “And rest assured that I will do it with grace.”
Phillips’s comments on drug policy issues are in line with his voting record. This shows a consistent support for reforms across the board, including incremental measures to reduce federal cannabis prohibition and more comprehensive proposals that promote social equity.
Biden has said that he believes the president is doing a good job, but his poll numbers are dropping. He hopes to provide an alternative path for Democrats.
Biden, who has been steadfast in his opposition to legalizing adult-use cannabis – a position the White House confirmed has not changed since Ohio voters voted for the reform – did pardon a large number of people last year who had committed federal cannabis possession crimes. He also directed an administrative review on marijuana scheduling.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recommendation to move marijuana to Schedule III of the CSA was a result of this directive. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which is preparing to make a scheduling decision, is reviewing the findings of the health agency.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-OR, a founding member and retiring member of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, told Marijuana Moment recently that if he was Biden, he’d act more aggressively to end marijuana criminalization before next year’s elections, partly to “atone” his record of championing punitive drugs policies during his tenure in the Senate.
Phillips’s stance on the matter is in line with that of the public at large. A new Gallup survey shows support for marijuana legalization reaching a record high. This includes 87 per cent of Democrats.
New York Officials advise drug treatment providers to stop testing patients for marijuana in most cases
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