In a recently published interview, Dean Phillips said that Joe Biden, the Minnesota Congressman who is challenging him in the Democratic Primary, was too old and out-of-touch to understand the contemporary cannabis issues.
Phillips stated, “I believe it’s a generational thing.” “People in their eighties haven’t lived, seen, or experienced the same things as younger generations.”
Phillips, 54 years old, spoke to Newsweek in a broad interview on his presidential ambitions. He also discussed what makes him different from Biden, the incumbent.
Phillips suggested last month that Biden smoke marijuana to better understand the “hypocrisy of federal prohibition. He later clarified that he did not mean the comment literally.
Phillips said that the cannabis issue was “perfect” for why he is running for president. The interview took place before Biden’s most recent round of pardons.
He said: “It’s tragic to see states after states legalizing, and our president doing nothing at all.” “That is a major reason we need to examine our criminal justice system as well. We have harmed many communities because of bad policies. “This is one of them.”
Phillips pointed out that prohibition has harmed black Americans in particular. Phillips noted that prohibition has hurt thousands of Americans, some of whom are in prison while others (mostly white) make millions in the same industry. It’s hypocrisy.”
He said that “most” of the country wanted marijuana legalization, but he added that leaders in Congress could not do “the most basic work the country asks for.”
He said, “It is tragic.” “But we can fix it.”
Phillips responded, “Absolutely.” When asked if he would be committed to legalizing marijuana, Phillips said, “Absolutely.” Immediately.”
“I cannot do it by myself.” He continued by saying that the Congress “should be listening to Americans” and he wanted to work together with lawmakers on issues such as cannabis legalization, access to abortion, and universal background checks. “When supermajorities and majorities in the country believe these things, but the Congress does not respond, then there is something wrong,” he continued. Something is wrong. “I want to make sure that people are heard.
Phillips, a who has previously expressed his support for reform of psychedelics, stated that this issue also exposes the age gap between him and Biden.
In the latest interview, he stated: “I believe this is a great example where we need a generational shift to accommodate new ideas.” “We should study psilocybin which helps veterans, those with PTSD and others psychological conditions. It helps improve their lives. “My concern is that because these are naturally occurring medicinals, the pharmaceutical industry has no incentive to keep the status quo.”
Phillips , who declared his bid for the Democratic Presidential nomination , in October, is a long-time supporter of drug policy reforms in Congress. He has supported federal marijuana legalization and pushed for the Biden administration’s relief of those who have been criminalized because they used cannabis.
“Cannabis remains a Schedule I narcotic, just like heroin, in the United States of America. Phillips recently said, “It’s absurd.” “But it’s your federal government with people who think this is fine.”
Phillips has voted and cosponsored many cannabis reform bills, such as the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE) in 2020, 2022 and 2030, as well as , a bipartisan proposal for legalization called the States Reform Act.
He voted in favor of the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (SAFE), which will protect financial institutions who work with state-licensed marijuana businesses between 2019 and 2021.
Phillips cited an exit poll conducted in Ohio, where voters overwhelmingly approved of a marijuana legalization measure. The poll showed that only 25% of Ohio voters felt Biden should seek reelection. He said the issue was an example of “the disconnect between the DC political industry complex + X and the exhausted majority” of Americans.
The president, who has been steadfast in his opposition to legalizing adult-use cannabis – a position the White House confirmed hasn’t changed since Ohio passed the reform – did pardon a large number of people for federal cannabis possession offences last year. He also directed an administrative review on marijuana scheduling. He extended his cannabis pardon last week.
In response to the earlier directive, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommended that marijuana be moved from Schedule I to schedule III of federal Controlled Substances Act. 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 position is in line with that of the public at large. A recent Gallup survey showed support for legalizing marijuana at a high. This includes 87 per cent of Democrats.
Florida Officials arrest two people accused of falsifying signatures for Marijuana legalization ballot initiative
The post Biden is Too Old to Understand The Need To Legalize Marijuana – Dean Phillips first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
