Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, says that it is “frustrating”, to see marijuana legalization falling short of equity goals. He said this was partly due to the ongoing federal prohibition. While he is pushing for reform, Booker characterized cannabis as “a dangerous” drug that hasn’t been studied enough.
The senator discussed drug policy reform on a panel held at Tisch College Monday. He has been a long-time advocate for federal legalization that is based on equity and he sponsored a bill in this direction with Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (DNY) last.
Booker was asked which of his priorities he thought could be accomplished in the current Congress. He said he believed that bipartisan legislators will be able pass legislation to eliminate sentencing disparities between crack cocaine and powder cocaine. Booker also believes that marijuana “compromise” legislation is something that might happen based on conversations a certain Republican colleagues.
Booker stated, “What is really frustrating to me is that I thought legalizing marijuana would be a democratizing influence on our country and it hasn’t.”
He expressed his dissatisfaction with the pace of expungements in states that now allow cannabis. He also criticized the lack of diversity within the industry.
He said that the business aspect of cannabis is not as equal and fair as one might think. “And part of that is due to the fact that we’ve failed to deschedule the program–so if you are a woman and you get a [cannabis] licence, you often can’t obtain the capital needed to fund your business or start one.”
The senator explained that “you have these multi-state operators who are funded by large hedge fund or wealthy individuals that are not diverse. They are buying licenses from desperate communities where they thought that they would help ensure that the people who were disproportionately affected by marijuana prohibition now get the opportunity to assist on the business side. But that hasn’t happened.”
He said that the marijuana business in America was dominated by white men. “Women, minorities and other groups make up only a tiny fraction of the marijuana business in America. This is a problem I have been working on.”
Booker expressed similar concerns about the equity shortcomings in cannabis reforms last year, as he worked with colleagues to advance a modest package of marijuana proposals that included bipartisan banking legislation and expungements legislation. The legislation did not pass.
He also said that marijuana was a “dangerous substance” that has been understudied during his Monday discussion.
He shared the same concerns with an audience member, who raised the issue of the dangers of THC products that are high in potency. Booker stated that the current status quo was untenable, and would only lead to discriminatory criminalization. “The question is how do we move forward?”
“This is a substance, and I believe it to be a dangerous one.” “I really do,” said he. I think we haven’t researched it enough. “I think that what’s going on in the brain is pretty dangerous. I will tell you, alcohol too.”
He said that if you have a young child or are under 25, you should not drink or smoke pot. You will damage your brain and negatively affect your mental wellbeing, your mental health. “The data and studies now, when you reach my age and see what you have done to yourself by regularly smoking drugs or marijuana, it makes me wonder, why? Why would you do that?”
“But I’ll tell you: I prefer a system which strictly regulates and enforces.” The senator stated that he saw a lot of work being done by some jurisdictions in order to protect children, particularly from gaining access to this dangerous drug. “I’d like to see more research done on drugs, alcohol and other things in our society which cause more harm than we think.”
Booker, Schumer, and other colleagues met early in this session with bipartisan Senators after they failed to advance the so-called SAFE Plus cannabis legislation package last year. It is complicated even more by the fact the Republicans control the House.
Next week, the majority leader and other legislators are scheduled to address a lobbying event in the Capitol Building about the cannabis holiday 4/20.
Booker and Sen. Rand Paul, both of Kentucky, recently introduced a bill that aims to streamline federal rescheduling for “breakthrough therapies”, such as psilocybin or MDMA. This is to encourage research and drug development.
Where Donald Trump, the presidential candidate, stands on marijuana
The post Cory Booker Called Marijuana a ‘Dangerous drug’ and Says He’s Fed Up With A ‘Non Diverse’ Industry first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
