Booker Says Now Is Time For Cannabis Reform – Dems Should Act During Lame Duck Or They'll Have To Wait Many Years

Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) spoke with Spotlight News' Chat Box host David Cruz about marijuana legalization and the midterms elections. With Republicans just one seat away from winning a majority of the House Of Representatives, Booker said Democrats should act on cannabis reform now during the lame-duck session or they could end up waiting many years for another chance. That is, until, Democratic Party takes Congress again.

“There’s a greater understanding on these issues—and I just have a feeling that we can get something done,” he said. “But the problem we have right now is the clock. There’s very little time in this lame duck and a lot of things that people want to do.”

During the lame-duck session, Democrats have until early January to use their majority positions in both chambers to act on the reform. 

Booker said he spoke with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NJ) and that it is “going to be hard to get as much as we need to.”

“When the House of Representatives takes over, even though there’s a lot of House members from states that have legalized marijuana in one way or the other, I just don’t see the Republicans wanting to advance that,” Booker said. “So it’s either now, or it might be many years from now.”

Booker’s Previous Optimism 

The Senator had expressed optimism about marijuana reform, especially following Biden’s cannabis pardons, which he said would make a “stunning” impact. At the same time, Booker remained hopeful that full cannabis decriminalization could happen in the near future. 

“It's interesting because, you know, almost about 19, 20 states now have legalized for adult use - even more for medical marijuana,” Booker said at the time. “Many of those are red states that have voted overwhelmingly for it. I think that there's enough space right now, and there are already conversations and dialogue going on about some kind of bipartisan movement because we see problems within the banking industry, and a lot of people who are winning licenses can't get access to loans and more.”

Soon after, in another interview with NJ.com’s Dave D’Alessandro, Booker said cannabis reforms were on the right path and that Congress has a "good shot" at passing them during the lame-duck session after the midterms.

Booker, Schumer, and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced a marijuana bill in late July that would decriminalize and deschedule cannabis on the federal level. In August, he noted being “open to compromises” when it comes to federal cannabis reform, even considering the possibility that his chamber could green-light a marijuana banking measure that would include social equity components, before taking action on the Cannabis Administration And Opportunity Act (CAOA).

Photo: Benzinga Edit; Sources: Gage Skidmore by Commons and Kindel Media by Pexels