*By Jacqueline Corba*
Voters are effectively pressuring lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to publicly support the easing cannabis laws, said the deputy director of the National Organization for Marijuana Laws.
In an interview Tuesday with Cheddar, the deputy director, Paul Armentano said politicians were realizing that marijuana enjoyed greater popularity than they did.
"With the midterm elections approaching, more and more members of Congress from both parties now acknowledge that advocating for marijuana policy reform is not a political liability, rather its a political opportunity," said Armentano.
Last Friday ー on 4/20, of all days ー Sen. Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, introduced a bill to decriminalize weed. A few days earlier, the majority leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, had introduced a bill to remove hemp from the list of controlled substances.
Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to stop using federal anti-drug laws to block medical marijuana research. And even President Trump changed his tune last week when he promised Sen. Cory Gardner, a Colorado Republican, he would support legal protections in states where marijuana is legal.
A majority of Americans ー 60 percent, according to a Pew Research Center poll ー said they support marijuana legalization.
For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/inside-the-momentum-driving-politicians-to-back-cannabis).
The Oregon ballot measure permits licensed service providers to administer psilocybin for mental health purposes to those 21 or older, but they don't need to have a medical background or be otherwise credentialed to get certified.
State officials and election experts say the 2020 election unfolded smoothly across the country and without any widespread irregularities.
Ingmar Rentzhog, CEO and founder of We Don't Have Time, joined Cheddar to discuss the difference going forward in climate policy with President-elect Joe Biden.
The popular video-sharing app TikTok, its future in limbo since President Donald Trump tried to shut it down earlier this fall, is asking a federal court to intervene.
Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board and former global economist at Citi, joined Cheddar to discuss the findings of a study about what is actually leading to wealth disparities between Black and white Americans.
A more conservative Supreme Court appears unwilling to do what Republicans have long desired — kill off the Affordable Care Act.
Democrats did not flip a single state legislature as of Monday after the election, and that means the majority of legislative maps will be redone by Republicans.
John Matze, CEO of Parler, says he welcomes Republicans and Democrats alike to create "discussion, debate, and discourse" on the popular "free speech social network."
North Carolina Congressman, Patrick McHenry (NC-10), joined Cheddar to discuss the election process and when a race should be called. McHenry says this election was called prematurely but will likely hold up once the official process is complete.
The course of President-elect Joe Biden's transition to power is dependent in part on an obscure declaration called “ascertainment.”
