Page 4 - aruba-today-20180421

A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 21 april 2018
Pot politics: Schumer joins politicians rethinking marijuana

By KEVIN FREKING
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The
top Senate Democrat is
using marijuana’s informal
holiday to announce a
change of heart about the
drug, another sign of the
growing political accep-
tance of pot.
Senate Minority Leader
Chuck Schumer of New
York said Friday he’ll in-
troduce a bill taking mari-
juana off the federal list of
controlled substances — in
effect decriminalizing its
use.
His bill would let states de-
cide how to treat mari-
juana possession. Under
the measure, the federal
government would still en-
force laws against moving
pot into states where it’s
illegal and would still regu-
late advertising so it isn’t
aimed at children. Schum-
er said he also wants to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., confers with his communications aide Matt House as he speaks to reporters follow-
ensure that minorities and ing a closed-door strategy session on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 17, 2018.
women have a fair shot Associated Press
at getting involved in the ginning to boom around 4/20. That’s the numerical pledged to respect states marijuana off the list of fed-
growing marijuana industry its sale, powerful politicians code for marijuana’s high that legalized marijuana eral controlled substances,
and that the federal gov- in both parties are shifting holiday, an homage to but also criticized legaliza- but the measures have
ernment invests in research their stances and seeing pot’s enduring appeal and tion and implied it should gained meager support.
to better understand the the political benefits. universal slang for smoking. be stopped. In January, One such bill filed last year
drug’s health effects. Schumer unveiled his new Schumer’s new stance Attorney General Jeff Ses- by Rep. Thomas Garrett,
“My thinking, as well as the position on HBO’s “Vice could be a smart move sions lifted an Obama-era R-Va., has 27 Democratic
general population’s views, News Tonight” where he politically. Democrats are policy that kept federal co-sponsors and six Repub-
on the issue has evolved,” was asked whether he had trying to do a better job of authorities from cracking lican co-sponsors out of 430
Schumer said. smoked pot before. “No,” connecting with young vot- down on the pot trade in members now in the House.
Schumer is only the latest he replied. ers, hoping to drive them to states where the drug is le- That’s a slight improvement
mainstream politician to Would he like to try? “Well, the poll in November’s mid- gal. But Sen. Cory Gardner, from the previous Congress
endorse what once was as you pointed out maybe term elections. R-Colo., said last week that when legislation from Dem-
viewed as a pet cause of I’m a little old. But, who Guy Cecil, chairman of Pri- Trump promised in a con- ocratic Rep. Jared Polis of
stoners and ex-hippies. But knows? Who knows?” said orities USA, a Democratic versation with him to sup- Colorado, calling for mari-
as more and more states Schumer, age 67. super PAC, said that de- port legislation to protect juana to be treated like al-
legalize some marijuana Schumer timed his an- criminalizing marijuana is a the marijuana industry in cohol, gained 19-co-spon-
use and an industry is be- nouncement to April 20, or clear motivator for younger states where it is legal. sors in the House.
voters. Former U.S. House Speak- The House also has its own
“It has a huge turnout ef- er John Boehner also an- “Cannabis Caucus.” Four
fect on young people,” nounced recently that he lawmakers started the
Cecil said. “I think you’ll see had changed his stance group last year to keep
Paradise in the Caribbean most, if not all of the presi- on marijuana and that he federal policies from inter-
dential candidates in the would promote its nation- fering with states as they
next election be in favor of wide legalization as a way enact laws allowing for
it, some version of it.” to help veterans and the recreational or medical
Nine states and the District nation’s deadly opioid cri- marijuana.
of Columbia now allow sis. Boehner, an avid ciga- Rep. Earl Blumenauer,
recreational use of marijua- rette smoker, has joined the D-Ore., and one of the
na, and a majority of states advisory board of Acreage group’s founders, issued
allow its use for medical Holdings, a multistate can- what he called the Can-
purposes. nabis company. nabis State of the Union on
Americans’ support for The federal government, Friday. He said that ballot
marijuana legalization has through the Controlled measures are “poised for
been growing in polls with Substances Act, generally success” in Michigan, Mis-
Gallup’s most recent up- prohibits the cultivation, souri, and perhaps Utah. He
date in October showing distribution, and possession said advocates for medi-
that 64 percent of Ameri- of marijuana, and has es- cal marijuana in Texas are
cans were in favor of legal- tablished significant penal- organizing and optimistic
ization. ties for violators. Lawmakers about their chances for
SALES OFFICE +297 2801005 info@leventaruba.com On the campaign trail, have sought in recent con- success in the 2019 legisla-
MOBILE +297 5927275 www.leventaruba.com President Donald Trump gressional sessions to take tive session in Austin.q