By Republican Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) faces universal backlash from officials and NORML leaders after making “shameful” remarks comparing the cannabis industry to slavery. House Oversight Committee Hearings November 15th in Washington DC
The House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties has met for hearings to discuss progress in state cannabis laws and bipartisan cannabis reform at the federal level.
In particular, the issues discussed concerned the difference between amnesty for those charged with possession and amnesty and expungement for cannabis-related crimes. The cannabis industry could be compared to slavery.
“The product is for sale. The product is for sale. “Slavery also made money, and it was a horrible situation that this country and the world have experienced over the years.”
1819 News report A committee meeting filled with city, state and federal officials did not receive Sessions’ comments well.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin spoke out after hearing Sessions’ “offensive” comments at a hearing. Woodfin spoke to the House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to join the conversation on pardons and cancellations. But he couldn’t ignore Sessions’ comments.
After Sessions’ remarks, Mr. Woodfin said with conviction that “words matter.” “While I am recording, I would like to say directly to you, a member of the Commission, that putting cannabis and slavery in the same category is clearly Aggressive and conspicuous. “
Rep. Jamie Ruskin (D-Md.) backed Mayor Woodfin’s comments about the “strange analogy.”
“I think we can all deny that. We apologize that the lectern was used for that purpose at some point today,” Ruskin said.
Cannabis industry reaction
The cannabis industry also took note of the careless remarks. “Today, incumbents in Congress equated the regulated cannabis industry with slavery,” tweeted Morgan Fox, NORML’s political bureau chief. “Shame on you. Texas, when are you going to send Pete Sessions packing?”
Politico called a delegate session “Washington’s Most Powerful Anti-Pot Official” in 2018. His storied history in fighting cannabis reform goes a long way. It’s also not the first time Rep. Pete Sessions has made questionable comments about cannabis, calling people in the industry “addiction merchants.”
Sessions said in 2018, “Marijuana is an addictive product, and addiction merchants do it. Rep. Pete Sessions also Association between traffic deaths and cannabis reformdenounces high-THC products.
Sessions’ comments linking the cannabis industry to slavery are particularly ironic. “Modern Slavery”: The U.S. Prison System. The ACLU regularly reports the following even though the utilization is about the same:Blacks are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis than whitesThe ACLU also reports on the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary slavery:Contains loopholes for prisoners who may be forced into labor And I am still working.
