*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).
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Wednesday, November 13, 2019.
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The sold out event marked progress for the industry, and hammered home opportunities ー and challenges ー on the rise in one of the next frontiers for cannabis legalization: the European Union.
The 'What's Your Warrior?' campaign is designed to introduce Generation Z to the diverse range of Army opportunities and build awareness among the country's youth.
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With the billionaire ex-NYC mayor looking to enter the crowded field of contenders, the NJ Senator's campaign doesn't believe Bloomberg could build a "multiracial coalition" to beat Donald Trump.
Juli Briskman was elected earlier this week as a supervisor in her home Algonkian District in Loudoun County, Virginia.
Trump said Friday that his administration will support a nationwide law raising the minimum age to purchase any vaping products from 18 to 21, a policy that has already been enacted in several states and cities.
The potential new train service is part of a long-term plan to vastly expand the types of travel – and range of ticket prices – that the state and federally funded, privately run passenger rail company provides.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Friday, November 8, 2019.
