Sen. John Fetterman, D-PA, says that it is a mistake that President Joe Biden’s pardons for marijuana possession offences do not cover offenses under the military code. Fetterman argues that cannabis should generally be treated as alcohol under federal laws.
The senator stated in an interview with Ask a Pol Matt Laslo that he differs from President Obama on cannabis reform, and would like to see it legalized and regulated as alcohol and tobacco.
The question Fetterman was asked did not indicate that the White House had made any new announcements about this.
The senator used the opportunity to criticize this limitation.
“I’d urge him to reconsider this.” “I don’t believe it’s helpful,” Fetterman told the president. “I can’t understand how you could serve your country in the military and then be punished for using something that is statistically safer than any other legal substance.
NEWS
Exclusive: “I do not agree with that, and I urge him to reconsider it.” I don’t think it’s helpful,” Sen. @JohnFetterman calls on @JoeBiden to reverse Army rule exempting service members from new marijuana possession pardon guidelines https://t.co/7UasRKM52R
Ask a Poli (@AskaPol_drugs March 1, 2020
“I don’t think marijuana is any different from alcohol.” He said that the only difference between alcohol and marijuana is whether it’s legal or not. “One can ruin a career, and another you can go to a store, buy it, drink as much as you want and then come back in the morning. That’s not going endanger your job.”
The senator said the issue “doesn’t, of course diminish my enthusiasm for Joe Biden and we’re not going to disagree on every single thing, but this isn’t one that I agree with.”
Biden’s pardons have been questioned over their limitations, as they cover those who violated federal possession laws, even if the offenses occurred on federal property. Some advocates would like the relief to be extended to include, for instance, people who have non-violent convictions for cannabis sales, as well as people punished for breaking military code and immigrants.
Rep. Barbara Lee, co-chairwoman of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and member of the House of Representatives, said to Marijuana Moment in a recent interview that pardons “should be extended all the way” as well as any unintended consequences or intentional consequences of the drug war should be addressed.
Ed Perlmutter, former Colorado Democratic Representative, however, told Marijuana Moment that he was “very satisfied” with Biden’s clemency measures. He argued that the president had “taken some pretty bold steps, in my opinion.”
Fetterman also stated in the interview that he does not personally use marijuana. This is despite his advocacy for legalization, and his frequent embracement of cannabis culture during his tenure as Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor.
He said, “No, I don’t really use it.” “But this doesn’t – I don’t smoke at all but it should be legal. It should be legal for me to drink alcohol, even though I don’t do it very often. It’s the same substance, it should be safe, legal and pure. And adults can partake because it’s their right.”
When asked about the larger drug war, Fetterman responded that there are “drugs which are dangerous and shouldn’t even be mentioned in the conversation of legalizing them,” but that the current criminalization system “isn’t effective.”
I’m bringing it up in a conversation. “I think we should be in a position to do that,” said he.
Last month, the senator and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts sent a letter together to the Drug Enforcement Administration. In the letter, asked the agency to legalize marijuana in its entirety and to answer questions regarding the ongoing review by the DEA.
Fetterman also said last month that he does not support Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY’s) call to crackdown on nicotine products Zyn, because it is a matter “of freedom and personal choice,” drawing comparisons with his reasons for supporting the legalization of marijuana.
has complained that Pennsylvania, his state, is “falling in behind” states like Ohio who are legalizing marijuana while adult use remains illegal.
Marijuana Users Have a ‘Significantly Reduced Chances’ of Cognitive Decline
The post Fetterman: Biden’s Marijuana pardons Are A Mistake first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
