Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer Makes the Case for Federal Legalized Marijuana
Battle at the Ballot Box over Bingus* in 2018 & 2020! Will Republicans or Democrats win the #Cannabis2018 vote? Kyle Jaeger over at Marijuana Moment puts it this way
"Which party is going to take a leadership role in advancing marijuana reform after the midterm elections? It depends on who you ask.
"On Thursday, both Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) indicated that their respective party would be backing legislation to change federal cannabis laws in the months after November’s critical election. Rohrabacher said that he’d received assurances that the White House would support reform efforts during the 116th Congress, which begins in January.
“It could be as early as spring of 2019, but definitely in the next legislative session,” he said, noting that President Donald Trump planned to keep his promise to support a bipartisan bill to protect legal states from federal interference.
Later, Blumenauer—a close colleague of the Republican congressman when it comes to cannabis reform efforts—said that Democrats would promote legislation to change cannabis laws in the first half of 2019 if his party retakes the House.
“With Democrats in control, we will be able to have the legislative process work and we’ll see more progress in a relatively short order, I think.”
“These will be some of the easiest things to do in the first six months of a new Congress because they’re supported by the public, the legislation is already teed up and ready to go,” Blumenauer said in an interview with Bloomberg. “It’s one of these areas of progress that will show we can get our act together and move forward.”
“It doesn’t have to be the top priority. It’s simpler than health care or global warming. And it’s supported by the public. I think it’s a no-brainer. I think it moves in the next six months.”
*Not our good friend Bingus over at the Grand Master Level Show and Morning Chill, but his namesake slang for the cannabis plant. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsiOzmZuSOvzmGDPUq_nTDg