‘Drugs have won’: Matt Gaetz defends federal pot decriminalization act as sole Republican co-sponsor
Image via AP.

Matt Gaetz
The measure is unlikely to survive the Republican-controlled Senate.

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz dug his heels Friday as the sole Republican co-sponsor to legislation that would, among other things, decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.

The House voted in favor of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, H.R. 3884, with a vote of 228-164. The Act would also expunge lower-level federal marijuana offenses and create a 5% excise tax. The tax would be used to support businesses and individuals “impacted by the war on drugs.”

Gaetz voted in favor of the legislation and spoke in support before lawmakers on the House floor.

“The federal government has lied to the people of this country about marijuana for a generation,” Gaetz said. “We have seen a generation, particularly of black and brown youth, locked up for offenses that should have not resulted in any incarceration whatsoever.”

Notably, the Panhandle congressman described the MORE Act as “flawed” and lamented that it would create new taxes and programs.

He contended, however, that cannabis reform has enjoyed “overwhelming support” in states where it has appeared on the ballot.

He added that arguments by Republican colleagues against cannabis reform are “losing with the American people.”

“The only thing that I know that’s more popular than getting out of the war on drugs is getting out of the war in Afghanistan,” Gaetz said.

While the act is unlikely to survive the Republican-controlled Senate, Gaetz encouraged the 117th Congress to take up the States Act.

The States Act, H.R. 2093, would allow states to set policies approving or prohibiting cannabis without federal interference.

The bill, however, would not legalize cannabis at the federal level.

“If we were measuring the success in the war on drugs, it would be hard to conclude anything other than the fact that drugs have won,” Gaetz said.

Several Florida lawmakers including Democratic Congressman Charlie Crist also voted in favor of the MORE Act.

In a news release, Crist said marijuana criminalization not only hurts communities of color but military veterans as well.

“Cannabis prohibition also keeps medical cannabis out of the hands of veterans in need,” Crist said. “That’s why state after state is approving legalization, and why the federal government should follow their lead and work to right the wrongs of the past.”

Crist, a former Florida Governor, highlighted that the federal government could collect more than $100 billion in tax revenue annually by removing federal restrictions.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the state’s highest elected Democrat, celebrated the bill’s passage in a news release.

She noted that 68% of Americans support marijuana legalization as of November 2020, according to Gallup.

“I am hopeful that this long overdue measure will be prioritized in the 117th Congress, on behalf of the countless families whose lives were upended by the war on drugs, patients who need safe and secure access to medical marijuana, and the diverse array of entrepreneurs seeking the economic potential of this growing industry, including hemp farmers right here in Florida,” Fried said.

Jason Delgado

Jason Delgado covers news out of the Florida State Capitol. After a go with the U.S. Army, the Orlando-native attended the University of Central Florida and earned a degree in American Policy and National Security. His past bylines include WMFE-NPR and POLITICO Florida. He'd love to hear from you. You can reach Jason by email ([email protected]) or on Twitter at @byJasonDelgado.


5 comments

  • S B ANTHONY

    December 4, 2020 at 3:27 pm

    OMG! Gates did something right that wasn’t entirely despicable and obnoxious. So he’s 1 for 5000. Maybe there’s hope for him yet if we can just get Kool Aid away from him.

  • Sonja Fitch

    December 4, 2020 at 5:06 pm

    Don’t know whether to laugh or cry Gaetz! Gaetz was asked to leave New Jersey and not come back after the 150 crowd did not follow covid standards.

  • William Burke

    December 7, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    Alcohol, adultery, pedophilia, teachers not working, CPS removing innocent children, Democrats stealing a Presidential Election, Sanctuary Cities, Illegal immigrant benefits, Illegal immigrant amnesty, Abortion used as birth control, these are a few things our government needs to address. Not a single death attributed to marijuana over doses. Look at the lives impacted by the items included in this text.

  • emptymag

    December 13, 2020 at 6:20 pm

    That’s our Government for you. All they want is EVERYTHING that we can give THEM! There will NEVER be a vice-versa…

  • John

    December 16, 2020 at 12:15 pm

    All I believe all CBD products are amazing but we need to buy from certified doctors.

Comments are closed.


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