Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon, says that it’s not too late for Congress to pass sensible legislation on marijuana reform and end the “insane prohibitionist policies” of the war against drugs.
In a passionate speech delivered on the House Floor on Thursday, the founder of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus expressed his “sadness” and “angryness” at the federal government’s continued inaction regarding marijuana reform. He argued that “it is time for Congress to stop making the problem worse.”
He said: “I have been leading the effort for the past 50 years to end the failed war on drugs, which targeted Black people and discouraged the use of an illegal therapeutic good, something that could’ve enriched our economies but instead criminalized behaviour.”
Blumenauer, who will retire at the end this year, but plans to continue to work on the issue said that members have heard stories about cannabis’ potential harms for vulnerable populations, and they should support legal regulations to reduce risks.
He said, “We do not have a system to regulate it, tax it, or keep it away from children.” “No local drug dealer checks identification and they are perfectly happy to sell children other, more potent and dangerous drugs.” “We don’t need to do this.”
The congressman, along with Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), is sponsoring a newly introduced resolution that promotes equity in state marijuana markets . He also pointed out that, under Democratic control, the House has passed comprehensive legalization bills, as well proposals to address unique financial challenges faced by the marijuana industry. All of these proposals have been passed by the House, but none has yet become law.
He said, “No wonder they cannot compete with the black-market.” “We are in a situation where state-legal cannabis businesses have to pay their tax with shopping bags filled with $20 bills, because we deny them banking services. It’s not only unfair, but insane.”
Blumenauer stated that “it promotes money laundering and inhibits the opportunities of enterprises which are now legal for most Americans to use for medical or adult purposes.” It’s time the federal government stopped making these problems worse.
He expressed frustration at the lack of meaningful actions in Congress but noted that administrative reform had been made, such as President Joe Biden’s recent expanded pardons to people who have committed federal cannabis possession crimes and an ongoing review on marijuana which could lead to a reclassification under the Controlled Substances Act from Schedule I into Schedule III.
The congressman stated that doing so “would make it easier to conduct the research, and would end unfair taxation overnight.” They would be able deduct their expenses for business. What a novel idea. “It’s time Congress stopped making this problem worse.”
Blumenauer stated that “the federal government created a situation with the failed drug war–unfair for millions of Americans- and denied an opportunity to something the American people have repeatedly demonstrated they want by their state votes to legalize it.” Blumenauer said, “It is not too late for Congress to use the legislation we have to solve this issue, to be fair and end the failed drug war, and be able allow state-legal business to not be at an advantage to the cartels or cheaters, and to get this right after fifty years.”
He concluded, “It is time to end the failed drug war and be fair with the American people.”
The floor speech was a reflection of Blumenauer’s yearly cannabis memo, which stated that it is time for another “productive” year in federal marijuana reform, with lawmakers poised to leverage “tremendous, bipartisan investments” starting in 2023 and pushing the Biden Administration to take further action on the issue before this year’s election.
Maryland Marijuana market spiked in December and set a new monthly record to cap $787.5 million in 2023 sales
Photo by the House of Representatives.
The post Congressman Delivers an ‘Angry Floor Speech’ About Stalled Federal Marijuana Reform but Says it’s “Not Too Late” to Act first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
