Leaders of the Congressional Hashish Caucus (CCC) on Friday introduced that they’ve chosen Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) to function the fourth co-chair of the bipartisan panel to advance federal legalization.
Mast was one in every of simply three GOP members who voted in favor of a Democratic-led invoice to finish prohibition and promote social fairness within the hashish business that handed within the Home final week. He’ll change the late Rep. Don Younger (R-AK), who died final month on the age of 88, as one in every of two Republican co-chairs of the caucus.
In a press release in regards to the new position and his help for ending federal marijuana prohibition, Mast stated that the “Structure by no means says ‘hashish,’ however it does say that unenumerated powers lie with the states.”
“Federal hashish coverage ought to be based mostly on that Constitutional precept,” he stated.
A navy veteran who has championed varied hashish reform payments over his time in Congress, Mast is being acknowledged by his fellow co-chairs as an apt match to affix the caucus management. His GOP counterpart, Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), stated in a press launch that the congressman “has established a popularity of excellent religion and management on strategic and smart hashish reform.”
“Not solely is Brian a longtime proponent of remedying the unjust penalties of our nation’s 80-year conflict on hashish, however as a consultant of a medically-legal state, he understands the complexities of each authorized and non-legal markets and the need for federal reforms that work with—not in opposition to—particular person states’ wants,” Joyce, who didn’t vote in favor of the Marijuana Alternative, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act final week, said.
At this time, I welcome @RepBrianMast as my fellow Republican Co-Chair of the Congressional #Cannabis Caucus.
Don Younger left behind a legacy of bipartisanship and goodwill, and it’s in that spirit @repblumenauer @RepBarbaraLee and I’ve chosen Brian to proceed his work.
— Dave Joyce (@RepDaveJoyce) April 8, 2022
“Importantly, he is aware of all too-well the sacrifices America’s veterans have made and is dedicated to making sure their wants are included in each complete and particular person reform efforts shifting ahead,” Joyce stated. “Brian serves in Congress as he did on the battlefield, with out regard for private acquire or private sacrifice.”
Following the MORE Act vote, the Democratic Hashish Caucus co-chairs—Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)—instructed Marijuana Second that there’s no purpose to suspect that Joyce’s “no” vote meant there was a “downside” with the panel.
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“I perceive the place David was coming from, however under no circumstances are there any indications from anybody that the Hashish Caucus, due to this, can be in any jeopardy,” Lee stated final week.
Mast, in distinction, did again the MORE Act—although he did vote in opposition to an modification that was in the end defeated to require federal companies to evaluate safety clearance denials going again to 1971 and retroactively make it so hashish couldn’t be used “as a purpose to disclaim or rescind a safety clearance.”
An ardent supporter of states’ rights and a real conservative, Brian has a popularity of excellent religion and management on strategic, smart #cannabis reform. I look ahead to persevering with the Caucus’ bipartisan work with him.
Learn the total announcement right here: https://t.co/v5FJUmmfj4
— Dave Joyce (@RepDaveJoyce) April 8, 2022
Joyce’s “no” vote on the general invoice didn’t precisely come as a shock. Not solely did his workplace flow into a letter to different GOP places of work forward of a Home Guidelines Committee listening to on the invoice, outlining the explanations for his opposition after making an attempt to work with the sponsor on revisions, however he additionally penned an op-ed for Marijuana Second going into additional element about his stance on the invoice forward of the ground vote.
In any case, Mast has a robust report of supporting marijuana coverage reform in Congress.
Beside voting for the MORE Act each final week and when it first went to the ground in 2020, the 41-year-old Mast has additionally persistently supported laws to protect all states hashish packages from federal interference, develop analysis into marijuana, safeguard banks that work with state-legal hashish companies and extra. He voted for an modification geared toward removing roadblocks to analysis on the advantages of psychedelics.
He’s a cosponsor of a GOP-led invoice to federally legalize and regulate marijuana that’s being sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), in addition to a extra modest measure to deschedule hashish from Joyce. Mast has additionally connected himself to payments from Younger to guard gun rights for marijuana shoppers and Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) to forestall the U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs (VA) from denying veterans advantages over state-legal hashish actions.
I look ahead to extra of my colleagues realizing the advantages of hashish as a revolutionary software for a thriving society and economic system. Hashish insurance policies have been extremely misguided up to now, let’s put them behind us, now. #SRA #Omnicannabis (2/2)
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) April 8, 2022
“Brian is distinctively certified to hold on the torch of Don’s management,” Joyce stated. “I’m happy to welcome him as my fellow Republican Co-Chair and look ahead to persevering with the Caucus’ bipartisan work collectively.”
Blumenauer, for his half, stated that “Congress is poised to advance complete reform for the hashish business,” and that Mast “brings a helpful perspective within the areas of bettering veteran care and making the federal authorities a associate, not barrier to, hashish analysis and business. I look ahead to working with him.”
Lee stated that Mast’s “years of advocacy for veterans and expertise representing a medically authorized state will present helpful perception.”
“Collectively, I’m assured we will construct a broad coalition of help in Congress and eventually enact equitable, modern-day federal hashish coverage,” she stated.
Picture courtesy of Mike Latimer.