US Congressman Talks Cannabis Advocacy: 'Squeaky Wheels Get The Grease'

"The sad, sickening truth in Congress is that if a Republican initiates a bill, you're not going to get a lot of Democrats on it, no matter how compelling," lamented Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN 3rd District) during the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference held recently in Miami. Alongside Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) and moderator Saphira Galoob of The Liaison Group, Phillips drew attention to the prevailing political divide in the US, arguing that it is time to rise above it.

The conference is slated to make a return in Chicago on September 27 and 28, and further information is accessible on bzcannabis.com.

Phillips underscored the potency of cannabis legislation as a platform for bipartisan cooperation. "This [cannabis legislation] is a wonderful opportunity for common ground and common sense regulation," he said. He expressed his intention, shared by Carter and many other Democrats, to work closely with Republican colleagues.

However, he voiced the need for Republicans to uplift their voices and find a platform to represent and lead their constituents. "Their voices have to be enhanced and they have to find a platform to not just represent their constituents, but to lead them," Phillips stressed.

Phillips then revealed a problem in the current political scenario: The extremes of political bases have receded so far into their corners that there is limited room for common sense platforms without fear of internal challenges. "The political bases, both the right and left, have gone so far into the corners that it really limits the amount of common sense platform that candidates can articulate without being primaried and challenged," Phillips explained.

Phillips strongly encouraged mobilization, highlighting the importance of advocacy in this process. "I encourage all of you, by the way, to mobilize. There are a lot of very strong, organized, vested interests that see members of Congress every day in Washington and squeaky wheels get the grease," he said, emphasizing the role of collective action in creating change. "Squeaking together and relentlessly and directly is going to be the most effective way to move this forward."

Cannabis legislation is a "wonderful opportunity" for Dems and Republicans to find common ground. But it takes courage!

Cannabis legislation is a "wonderful opportunity" for Dems and Republicans to find common ground. But it takes courage!

@RepDeanPhillip & @RepTroyCarterat the @Benzinga #Cannabis Capital Conference

cc @BzCannabis

Join us: Chicago, Sep 27-28 (https://t.co/qLjHwC5sZW) pic.twitter.com/nwj8AiB4Oy

— Javier Hasse (@JavierHasse) June 5, 2023