Could Republicans Pass Cannabis Legalization in the United States?
Cannabis legalization and decriminalization in the United States is a political and social issue. As time goes by, politically liberal states have begun a movement of legalization that may result in an eventual federal legalization movement. Republicans, who are traditionally conservative, control the United States House of Representatives after losing control of the Senate, leading many to believe that cannabis legalization will not happen soon. The opposite may be true as the SAFE Act and medical cannabis legalization occured under conservative rule.
Some 37-states have legalized cannabis use for adults for both medical and recreational purposes. Blue states including Oregon, California and New York have made mlhuge strides towards full legalization and decriminalization and more will follow. Republicans control the House of Representatives and the concern is that they will roadblock any cannabis legalization on a federal level. This may not be the case, and it may prove to be the opposite case.
Republicans are conservatives and have typically not been associated with cannabis reform. This assumption is not true entirely, as the SAFE Act for cannabis banking and medical cannabis reform have both passed under Republican control over the House.
President Biden has pardoned many with cannabis-related criminal records, and more Red states have begun efforts for cannabis legalization and decriminalization including Tennessee. These are exciting developments.
We may see Republicans focus on cannabis legalization for increased tax revenue as a possible recession materlizes over the horizon. Conservatives understand the need to make sure individual states retain the rights not taken by the federal government under the 10th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. State's rights are fundamental to the conservative platform, and this may lead to legalization. President Biden is not pro-cannabis, and he has not pushed legalization but has leaned towards decriminalization and expungement of related criminal records. The future of cannabis in the United States is looking better as we examine the current and past leadership, which support it in one way or another in both conservative and liberal states.
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