Don Young continues quest on pot reform, asks Biden to drop cannabis from Schedule 1

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Congressman Don Young and Congressman Dave Joyce (R-OH), sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, urging them to remove cannabis as a Schedule I substance and to engage in legislative efforts to reform federal cannabis policies. Young and Joyce are co-chairs of the Cannabis Caucus.

Under current law, cannabis is classified as Schedule I substance alongside significantly more dangerous substances such as heroin and LSD, and above morphine, methadone, and cocaine in the Schedule II category. This classification prevents cannabis from being accepted for medical use, causing research restrictions and preventing patients, including veterans, from accessing it, the two congressman wrote.

Earlier this month, Young, Joyce (R-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, urging him to swiftly implement proposals to allow veterans to access medical cannabis.

On Nov. 16, Young introduced the States Reform Act with Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC), Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA), Congressman Peter Meijer (R-MI), and Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL). The legislation, if it passes, would protect state-legal cannabis policies by ending federal marijuana prohibition.

In May, Young helped Congressman Joyce introduce the Common Sense Cannabis Reform for Veterans, Small Businesses and Medical Professionals Act. The bill would end federal marijuana prohibition by removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.

In April, Young introduced the Gun Rights and Marijuana (GRAM) Act, legislation to secure the Second Amendment rights of Americans living in jurisdictions with legal adult-use and medicinal marijuana.

37 COMMENTS

  1. I truly cannot believe I am saying this, but I’m starting to kinda like this guy. Now, with the jungle primary, I may actually vote for him.

    • Yes, it feels that way. I agree with the reclassification. I think it should have been done before states were allowed to legalize it. But this didn’t seem to be on Don’s radar until it was on the voters’ radar. I would like to think he likes to represent what his state wants and needs, but that hasn’t been his his track record either. He’s very inconsistent. I’m pretty ready for somebody else.

      • Manda: I agree with your point. This isn’t an issue that follows party lines. The libertarian vibe of the right wing of Alaska voted to ease the government reigns on MJ. But this does soak up Democrat votes and I don’t trust Don to do something like this out of integrity and wisdom. Maybe. This certainly didn’t seem to be anything he was thinking about until he realized Alaskans do. For the votes he lost on the right, he might have just gained on the left. And if he is willing to do things just to soak up votes from the left, that’s a scary thought. What am I saying? He’s already voted for stuff and screwed over some of my principles that make me consider myself a conservative. I agree with reclassifying MJ. It should have been done ages ago, not necessarily because I think MJ should be legal but because it is truly a harmless drug compared to all other drugs and definitely should be researched more for medicinal purposes. AND states shouldn’t have even been allowed to legalize it until they reclassified it. Having it federally illegal while legal in states is just making a mockery of legal systems and diluting the whole point of laws.

        While I think Don aligns with my principles more often than a broken clock, he’s still incredibly inconsistent and unreliable and I don’t want to rely on someone who does things just to keep himself in office, especially if he keeps choosing to do other things that alienate him from many of the conservatives of Alaska.

  2. This makes sense. Pragmatically, this will allow Alaskans to bank, pay taxes, and legally contribute to our economy. This business has been in existence for 50 plus years and whether you agree or not is not going away legalization ensures a safe product free of paraquat and other harmful chemicals and brings finances into legal taxation. Legalization takes the business away from cartels and criminals. People who oppose legalization need to seriously think about the implications of leaving this in the hands of criminals. I support this completely and hope to replace Don Young for a host of other reasons.

  3. Bong hits for the Dean. Hold it in deep, Don, and exhale slowly. If we can get your sats down below 60, we might get lucky and replace you next year with a true Conservative. Old potheads don’t die, they just blow away.

  4. Heart and lung disease kills more people every year than COVID could ever hope to. And, the MJ has something like 10X the carcinogens and toxins as conventional tobacco.
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    Yet, the very same government who wants to shut down the entire nation to keep everyone healthy is actively pushing a product that was well known to do the opposite.

  5. I’m not against this proposal at all.
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    But damn, do I hate walking into stores behind some stoner who smells like he was just sprayed by a skunk! I have to wonder, do current pot smokers realize just how much it makes them STINK?!

    • They think it is a badge of honor like others here. Many know the destructive nature of loco weed. The Scientific community has for some reason been admitting it lately. Mental Psychosis, Sleep Problems writ large, you name it.
      The old pot hacks always made fun of the old movie – Reefer Madness – and the movie was right all along!!!

  6. Why oh why is Don Young now bringing this out….oh wait! It’s election season! I know he’s been working on this for some time but he’s hasn’t accomplished anything. Now he’s working on it again to get reelected. Don needs to stand down and let someone new into that office.

  7. Yawn Dung. Keep that doobie rolled tight and lit up, congressman. You’ll be smokin a lot of it come November 2022.

    • If Don Young cut the hair growing outside of his ears, rolled it tight and smoked it, he’d be legally high and still dumber than a box of rocks.

  8. Don is wrong again. Federally, there is NO area that is marijuana legal. Don would obviously like to gain the votes if pot smokers and growers this coming election. He thinks he might have a chance of winning that way? Of course, at any cost to tthe people he is supposed to represent!

  9. Illicit drug use is sorcery; binding others with a spell. I don’t believe in it. The governmint has been in international drug trade for too long; before the Boxer Rebellion. The Brits and their poppies and their servants we the people. Just say no to stupidity and drugs and live your life with a clear head.

  10. Hope Donnie does not drive since legal loco weed increases head ons 20%. I don’t even drive out the Parks anymore from Wasilla to Talkeetna. Puff on suckers!

  11. Yes, I hear smoking ear wax cures many ailments like CBD…lololo about as stupid as Vapes. My lord these fools are dumb!

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