Former Vice President Joe Biden’s suggestion that cannabis could be a gateway drug was “risky” and a “Reagan-era talking point,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said in an interview with Marijuana Moment on Tuesday. While the congresswoman said she acknowledged that “there are folks, when it comes to the marijuana issue, that have a wide range…

A Virginia lawmaker prefiled a bill on Monday for the 2020 session that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana—a piece of reform legislation that stands a much better chance of passing after voters elected Democratic majorities in both chambers of the legislature earlier this month. Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) introduced the proposal, which would make…

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said on Tuesday that he’s optimistic about the prospects for getting his comprehensive marijuana legalization bill out of committee and onto the floor by the end of this Congress. During a press conference with lawmakers and advocates, Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) also told Marijuana Moment that part of…

While former Vice President Joe Biden (D) does not support marijuana legalization because he thinks the substance might be a “gateway drug,” at least one of his rival candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination is hopeful he’ll change his mind once he takes a look at more research. “I believe that Joe actually will…

Congress schedules marijuana vote; Sanders pledges legal cannabis ‘in every state’; AOC backs drug decrim Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Email address: Leave this field empty if you’re human: Your support makes Marijuana…

New Jersey lawmakers are giving up on plans to enact marijuana legalization through the legislature and are now seeking to put the question before voters on the 2020 ballot. Senate President Steve Sweeney (D) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Nicholas Scutari (D) announced on Monday that while they had “made further attempts to generate additional…

As former Vice President Joe Biden faces a backlash over his suggestion that marijuana could be a ‘gateway’ drug, rival presidential candidates such as Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), as well as entrepreneur Andrew Yang, are touting their own support for cannabis reform proposals One day after Biden said he doesn’t support…

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) voiced support for decriminalizing the use of all drugs on Sunday. The freshman congresswoman tweeted that drug decriminalization, as well as marijuana legalization, are “matters of public health.” Marijuana should be legalized, and drug consumption should be decriminalized. These are matters of public health. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 18, 2019…

A key House committee has officially announced that a vote on a comprehensive marijuana legalization bill is scheduled for this week. The House Judiciary Committee said on Monday that the panel will mark up legislation introduced by Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), which would federally deschedule cannabis and address social equity, on Wednesday at 10:00 AM…

Biden discusses marijuana as a gateway drug; Deval Patrick’s cannabis record; Study: Hemp-derived CBD reduces opioid use Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Email address: Leave this field empty if you’re human: Your support…