Beto O’Rourke expresses support for federal cannabis legalization and legal amnesty

Emma Spears - thegrowthop.com Posted 5 years ago
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Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke has once again confirmed his support for federal cannabis legalization.

 

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The Democrat, who is rumoured to be running for president in 2020 and was narrowly beaten in the race for governor by Republican Ted Cruz during the primaries last November, has expressed support for cannabis legalization since he worked on the City Council in El Paso, Texas.

According to CNN, O’Rourke sent an email to political supporters in which he wrote in favour of repealing federal cannabis laws and legal amnesty for those with a criminal record due to cannabis-related charges.

“Giving low-level offenders a second chance no matter the color of their skin or the economic status they hold can create an opportunity for all of us,” O’Rourke wrote in the email. “It will help build a future that is more just, more fair, and more prosperous for every single person in this state and this country.”

Currently, recreational cannabis is legal in 10 states and Washington, DC, and even more states have legalized medical use—although it remains classified as a Schedule I illegal drug at the federal level.

O’Rourke spoke in favour of legalization as a component of a more expansive overhaul of proposed criminal justice reform, also backing sections on job applications which require applicants to disclose any criminal record they may have. O’Rourke is also in favour of allowing individuals convicted of criminal charges to apply for loans.

New Jersey Democratic Senator Cory Booker, who has announced his intention to run for president in 2020, recently re-introduced a bill known as the Marijuana Justice Act to remove cannabis from its current status as a Schedule I drug—meaning it is considered to have a “high potential for abuse,” has “no currently accepted medical treatment use in the U.S.,” and has a “lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.

Other drugs on the Schedule I list include heroin, MDMA, and GHB. The Act would also expunge records of cannabis convictions.

 

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