The legalization of cannabis has become popular in America, with 18 states having legalized the recreational use of the herb and another 13 decriminalizing its use. However, while Congress is still in disagreement about the herb, a recent visit from an investigative reporter may help move things along.
Amanda Ripley, the witness who graced a House Committee hearing, suggested visits to cannabis businesses by ideologically opposed legislators. Similar visits have happened in Canada, when MP Garnett Genius and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith visited a major producer of cannabis in 2017. This came right before the country legalized the herb for recreational use in 2018. Ripley explained that these visits, which would be one-on-one, would help encourage productive conversations between legislators and bridge political divides.
This approach may be useful in Congress, with the latest polls finding that a bipartisan majority of Americans were in favor of putting an end to cannabis prohibition. However, when the bill for legalization was advanced to the House and put to a vote, the partisan breakdown didn’t reflect the voters’ will, with half a dozen Democrats voting against the legislation and five Republican members voting for it.
Ripley pointed out that the marijuana episode on the “Political Blind Date” show provides examples of the various constructive conversations that could occur if elected officials in the United States engaged with each other on issues they didn’t agree on, while stepping out of their comfort zones. In that episode, MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, a member of the Liberal Party who not only backed an extensive drug decriminalization measure but also supports the legalization of marijuana talks with MP Garnett Genius, a member of the Conservative Party, on various topics including THC potency and tax revenue generated from legal cannabis sales.
In spite of their political differences, the two MPs agreed that marijuana did have medicinal value for a part of the population. Before their meeting, only medical marijuana was legal in Canada. Now Canada has legalized cannabis nationally.
And Canada isn’t the only country legalizing the substance. In Mexico, the Supreme Court annulled the prohibition of cannabis in a general declaration of unconstitutionality last week. It seems the United States still has a long way to go in order to get to where these countries are with regard to cannabis.
There is hope though, with Sen. Cory Booker, Chairman Ron Wyden of the Senate Finance Committee and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer having recently revealed that they’re drafting a legalization bill that may soon be introduced to the floor. Furthermore, Chairman Jerrold Nadler of the House Judiciary Committee has also refiled his cannabis legalization measure dubbed the MORE ACT (Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement Act).
Marijuana industry players in the U.S., including Red White & Bloom Brands Inc. (CSE: RWB) (OTCQX: RWBYF), may be hoping that if bipartisan visits to cannabis businesses can help move policy reforms along, the sooner such visits start, the better.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Red White & Bloom Brands Inc. (CSE: RWB) (OTCQX: RWBYF) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/RWBYF
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