Thread by @natsfert

Link to live stream of the hearing on the #marijuana reform bill here:

rules.house.gov

#cannabisnews

https://twitter.com/natsfert/status/1334185857973182464

Chairman @RepMcGovern begins by saying it's a historic day, because the rules committee is addressing marijuana reform. #cannabisnews

GOP Rep. Rob Woodall says that if we refuse to enforce federal laws, we should repeal those laws.

Adds though that he has letters from AAA and the Surgeon General saying there are still worries about fully reforming marijuana reform.

Rep @JacksonLeeTX18 says the #MOREAct is “not to promote drug use” but to “provide justice."

Two lawmakers have already quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in this hearing on marijuana policy reform. Jackson Lee says "if not now, then when?"

GOP Lawmaker @RepBenCline says #MOREAct could have been a bipartisan bill, and asks for the committee to pass an open rule so that there can be more debate on this bill on the House floor.

He adds it was “jammed” through Judiciary and Ways & Means committees.

Cline says #marijuana should be rescheduled, not descheduled. (aka moved to a less strict classification)

Cline, a former prosecutor, says he is not in favor of expungements. He says it sets a dangerous precedent and isn't fair to people who "obeyed the law."

Note: data show Black ppl are arrested 4x more than white ppl for weed despite equal rates of obeying/not obeying the law.

Cline is correct in saying that there was not a Judiciary Committee hearing specifically on the #MOREAct. There was a broad hearing on marijuana reform, but it was held 13 days before the MORE Act was introduced. The MORE Act only had a markup (aka vote), in November.

Woodall points out that there are no regs in this bill re: children.

A number of states have such laws, and if this bill had a chance of becoming law this cycle, I would not be surprised if lang. was added at least instructing FDA to deal w/packaging, flavors, edibles etc.

Republicans keep bringing up logical issues and then pivot them to call for a broader rule on this bill — aka open up the bill for discussion on the floor this week.

That would take more time, when there are just a few more days left to legislate.

We've had our first historical reference to alcohol prohibition and bootleggers, courtesy of @RepRaskin.

Rep Mary Scanlon says that while she worries about impact on children, her district recently decriminalized (penn has legalized medical) and that means she needs to advocate for what her voters want.

That's definitely a common narrative among lawmakers.

Wow! Did NOT realize that @DonnaShalala once oversaw the single federally-licensed research marijuana grow at the University of Mississippi when she was Secretary of HHS — you learn something new every day!

Every Democrat is mentioning systemic racism and criminal justice reform as the motivation for passing this bill.

Hemp was legalized in 2018 farm bill to give a new crop to farmers who are $$ struggling.

That is not what this bill is — this is a criminal justice reform bill.

After listening to an hour of testimony, it's clear that the Republican tone to legalization isn't "weed is evil and will kill our children" but "we need to change the federal status of marijuana, this but not in this way."

Democrats, meanwhile, are saying yes — we need more research, and there are worries to sort out... but we have to remove the criminality on this now, because it's hurting people while we wait around to sort out the research.

"What I can tell you, in my neighborhood, it will diminish the death," said Rep @JacksonLeeTX18, and a pretty powerful bit of testimony. "The killing of small timers, dealing with marijuana sales and losing their life."

Chairman @RepMcGovern adds: "When people ask me what is systemic racism, I point to our drug laws in this country."

That's a pretty strong statement in a year where criminal justice reform and systemic racism has been one of the most important topics in the nation. #cannabis

Rep @repblumenauer — the unofficial #cannabis czar on the Hill — is here now, to give testimony.