Speaker Candidates and Marijuana: A Candid Conversation
Hey there, fellow cannabis enthusiasts! It’s time to dive into a topic that’s making waves in the world of politics – Speaker Candidates and Marijuana. In this blog post, we’re going to take a laid-back yet informative approach to explore where nine House Speaker candidates stand on the green stuff. So, grab your favorite strain, settle in, and let’s get started.
The Lowdown on Our Speaker Candidates
Alright, folks, let’s kick things off by getting to know our Speaker candidates and their views on marijuana. We’ve got nine Republican members in the running, each with their unique take on cannabis policy. It’s been a bumpy ride in the House of Representatives lately, with no Speaker in sight for weeks. But fear not, we’re here to break down the key marijuana votes for each of these contenders.
- Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI): A Psychedelic Advocate?
- Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL): From Cannabis Arrest to Advocate
- House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN): Let the States Decide
- Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK): Banking Access Advocate
- Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA): Consistent Opposition
- Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA): Banking Support, But No Legalization
- Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL): Staunch Opposition
- Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA): Mixed Bag
- Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX): The Anti-Cannabis Crusader
Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI): A Psychedelic Advocate?
First up, we’ve got Rep. Jack Bergman from Michigan. Now, Bergman’s been co-chairing the Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Clinical Treatments (PACT) Caucus. That’s right, he’s been diving into the world of psychedelics alongside his stance on cannabis. While he hasn’t always been the biggest fan of marijuana legislation, he’s come around to supporting modest reforms, including cannabis banking.
Bergman did a little flip-flop on the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, voting against it in 2019 but giving it a thumbs-up in 2021. These days, he’s even a cosponsor of the House version of the bill, showing his support for marijuana research for military veterans. However, don’t expect him to jump on the federal legalization train anytime soon.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL): From Cannabis Arrest to Advocate
Next on the list is Rep. Byron Donalds from Florida. He’s a relatively new face in Congress, having entered in 2021, but he’s no stranger to the world of cannabis. Donalds has voted in favor of marijuana banking legislation and even supports protecting gun rights for medical cannabis patients.
Here’s a twist – Donalds himself was arrested on cannabis distribution charges back in 1997, but those charges got dropped in 2000. Talk about a turnaround, right? He did vote against an amendment to prevent security clearance denials over past marijuana use, though, even though he’s walked the same path.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN): Let the States Decide
Tom Emmer from Minnesota takes a different approach. He believes cannabis laws should be left up to the states, and he’s been quite supportive of modest reform measures, especially when it comes to cannabis banking. Emmer’s not a fan of federal overreach in this area.
He’s cosponsored the SAFE Banking Act and voted for various bills to ease restrictions on cannabis research. Emmer also supports equal sentencing for crack and powder cocaine offenses. But when it comes to VA doctors recommending medical marijuana to veterans, he’s not on board.
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK): Banking Access Advocate
Representing Oklahoma, we have Kevin Hern, who’s all about marijuana industry banking access. He’s voted in favor of it twice, though he hasn’t cosponsored any related legislation. Hern also supported appropriations amendments to protect all state cannabis programs.
However, don’t expect him to support federal legalization – he’s voted against it in both 2020 and 2022. In fact, he actively tried to steer the House away from considering legalization, urging a focus on reducing oil dependence instead.
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA): Consistent Opposition
Mike Johnson from Louisiana has consistently opposed cannabis-related legislation. He’s voted against bills safeguarding banks working with state-licensed marijuana businesses and even cosponsored a bill that included the SAFE Banking Act, though he’s not a fan of it.
Johnson didn’t vote on federal legalization bills in 2020 and 2022, and he’s not into protecting state cannabis programs either. As for medical cannabis, he’s not on board with VA doctors recommending it to veterans, and he voted against bills promoting cannabis research.
Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA): Banking Support, But No Legalization
Dan Meuser from Pennsylvania is another Speaker candidate who’s in favor of marijuana banking reform. But when it comes to federal legalization, he’s a no-go. He hasn’t cosponsored any marijuana-related measures.
Meuser has also voted against amendments to protect state marijuana programs and opposed the cannabis security clearance legislation. However, he did support a bill to ease marijuana research restrictions. So, he’s all about the science but not the green revolution.
Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL): Staunch Opposition
Gary Palmer from Alabama is one of the most consistent opponents of marijuana policy reform among the Speaker candidates. He’s voted against cannabis banking protections, federal legalization, and amendments to protect state cannabis programs.
Palmer’s also against VA doctors recommending medical cannabis to veterans and measures to prevent security clearance denials due to past marijuana use. He’s not one to jump on the cannabis bandwagon, that’s for sure.
Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA): Mixed Bag
Austin Scott from Georgia has a mixed record when it comes to marijuana policy reform. He’s voted for marijuana banking protections but didn’t vote on federal legalization in 2020 and voted against it in 2022.
Interestingly, Scott has cosponsored legislation three times to legalize CBD and CBD-rich plants while allowing states to decide on broader legalization. So, he’s a bit of a wildcard in the cannabis debate.
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX): The Anti-Cannabis Crusader
Last but not least, we have Pete Sessions from Texas, a well-known opponent of marijuana policy reform. He’s been a roadblock for various cannabis measures during his time in Congress.
Sessions voted against marijuana banking protections, federal legalization, and amendments to protect state cannabis programs. He’s even against VA doctors recommending medical cannabis to veterans. This guy’s not one to light up the joint, that’s for sure.
Conclusion
There you have it, my fellow cannabis enthusiasts! We’ve taken a deep dive into the stances of nine Speaker candidates on marijuana. It’s safe to say that the cannabis landscape in politics is as varied as the strains in your local dispensary.
Thanks for joining me on this journey through Speaker Candidates and Marijuana. And a big shoutout to Kyle Jaeger for the original reporting. Stay tuned for more cannabis-related insights, and until next time, keep it green and stay chill!
