It’s no secret that Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) supports marijuana law reform. But late last week, the potential presidential candidate taped a full-throated endorsement in favor of cannabis legalization.
In a video message addressed to Americans For Safe Access, Warren discussed the importance of removing the stigma associated with cannabis. The progressive lawmaker also urged advocates of sane marijuana laws to continue fighting to be “on the right side of history.”
For years, Warren has been a champion for cannabis legislative reform. Earlier this year, she called Attorney General Jeff Session’s move to eliminate rules that allowed states to legalize marijuana “an incredibly destructive thing to do.”
Massachusetts legalized marijuana in 2016 through a voter initiative and is currently creating rules to regulate the industry. Retail stores are anticipated to open their doors this summer.
“States like Massachusetts are working hard to put sensible rules in place to deal with marijuana,” Warren said.
“Jeff Sessions has left it up to the individual U.S. attorneys, but that creates a whole new level of uncertainty that makes it much more difficult for a state like Massachusetts to be able to finish and implement rules that Massachusetts believes are the safest rules and the best ways of dealing with marijuana,” Warren said.
Warren recorded the pro-cannabis message to help launch the 2018 National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference in Washington D.C. Americans for Safe Access was founded in 16 years ago by medical cannabis patient Steph Sherer as a vehicle for patients to advocate for the acceptance of cannabis as medicine.
With over 100,000 active members in all 50 states, ASA is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works to overcome political, social and legal barriers by creating policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers through legislation, education, litigation, research, grassroots empowerment, advocacy and services for patients, governments, medical professionals, and medical cannabis providers.
