Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer told canna-business owners that he believes cannabis will be treated like alcohol throughout the U.S. in five years during an appearance at the Cultivation Classic in his home state, Willamette Week reports. He said if lawmakers who support legalizing do their job “it’s game over in two years.”
“If Democrats control the House of Representatives in the first months of the next Congress in 2019, we will be having hearings on de-scheduling.” – Blumenauer, during the Cultivation Classic, via Willamette Week
Blumenauer, a member of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, also touched on former House Speaker John Boehner’s foray into the industry. Last month, Boehner, a Republican and longtime opponent of cannabis legalization, joined the board of Acreage Holdings. Boehner admitted his “thinking on cannabis has evolved.” Blumenauer said he offered his former opponent a pair of “cannabis-themed” socks to welcome him to the industry.
“I don’t second-guess people’s motives if they’re wiling to evolve. Whether it’s for political expediency, whether it’s that they’ve seen the light, whether they’re fed up with the racial injustice seen in drug laws or if it’s a commercial opportunity.” – Blumenauer, during the Cultivation Classic, via Willamette Week
The Congressional Cannabis Caucus is bi-partisan but only has four seated House members: Blumenauer and fellow Democrat Jared Polis, along with Republicans Dana Rohrabacher and Don Young.