The timing here is awfully Political.
I imagine Democrats wouldn't do this if they had control of the government.
Seems like lip service to their bases.
I imagine Democrats wouldn't do this if they had control of the government.
Seems like lip service to their bases.
Why not? It's already decriminalized in virtually the entire country. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis_by_U.S._j...
35 states have legalized it for medical use, and 15 have legalized it recreationally. From the map, it looks like Idaho stands alone on it being completely illegal and criminalized.
You are going to be getting angry phone calls. Better to get those angry phone calls in exchange for a spending bill that goes to your donors/constituents.
Elections have razor thin margins. What benefit does the politician get?
That's the point, though. It's not a big policy change - the map demonstrates that. Decriminalization is already the de facto situation in nearly the entire country.
Federal law with regards to marijuana is completely and openly ignored in much of the country. Dispensaries operate with relative impunity.
https://www.pewforum.org/fact-sheet/changing-attitudes-on-ga...
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/11/14/americans-s...
Centrist Democrats have been trying to get this moderate base for a while, and leftist Democrats are obviously gonna support legalization, so this seems like the rare case where they actually get to be aligned on something broadly and would push it if they were in power.
Awesome! What's the problem?