Legalizing Marijuana, With a Focus on Social Justice, Unites Democrats

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

People in Colorado still remember John Hickenlooper’s crack after the state legalized marijuana, which he opposed: “Don’t break out the Cheetos or goldfish too quickly.”

But Mr. Hickenlooper, the governor at the time of the 2012 initiative allowing recreational use of cannabis, eventually changed his mind. He acknowledged that fears of increased use by children did not materialize, and he boasted of the tax revenues for social programs that regulated sales delivered.

Entering the Democratic presidential race this month, Mr. Hickenlooper joined a field already jammed with pro-legalization candidates, a reflection of swiftly changing public opinion since Colorado became the first of 10 states with legal recreational marijuana.

The issue today is a pillar of progressive politics, but not because of graying hippies who like their Rocky Mountain High. Rather, for many Democrats, legalization has become a litmus test for candidates’ commitment to equal treatment for all races in policing and criminal justice as well as fighting economic inequality.

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Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey last month introduced the pointedly named Marijuana Justice Act, which would legalize the drug nationwide and expunge past convictions. Supporters note that African-Americans are almost four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites, even though rates of use are similar.

-snip-

“It’s not enough to legalize marijuana at the federal level — we should also help those who have suffered due to its prohibition,” Mr. Booker said in a tweet.

Other 2020 candidates in the Senate quickly signed on as sponsors, including Kirsten Gillibrand, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris.

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https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/legalizing-marijuana-with-a-focus-on-social-justice-unites-democrats/ar-BBUSdj2?li=BBnb7Kz

The article goes on to quote several other Democratic presidential candidates but oddly leaves out the governor of the state that legalized marijuana around the same time Colorado did Jay Inslee of Washington state.

[handmade34]

1. marijuana unites Democrats... with good reason...

studies all show...

Study: Opioid Use Decreases in States that Legalize Medical Marijuana

Where marijuana is legal, opioid prescriptions fall, studies find

Legal Marijuana States Have Lower Opioid Use

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Opioid Use Lower In States That Eased Marijuana Laws

Legal Marijuana is saving lives in Colorado, study shows...

Legal marijuana linked to reduction in opioid ...

In States With Medical Marijuana, Painkiller Deaths Drop by 25 Percent...

etc., etc....