[The Hill]
“A group backed by GOP mega-donor Charles Koch, on Tuesday, launched the Cannabis Freedom Alliance, an idea that was sparked after a Koch was on a Zoom call with rapper Snoop Dogg.”
“Politico first reported that Snoop, Koch and criminal justice reform advocate Weldon Angelos were on a Zoom call together last summer, when the idea for the coalition originated.”
“Angelos was pardoned by former President Trump in January, after serving 13 years of a 55-year sentence for marijuana trafficking charges.”
“The movement, according to a statement from the alliance, aims to “end the prohibition, criminalization, and overregulation of cannabis in the United States.””
“The coalition includes a number of groups: Americans for Prosperity, the advocacy group co-founded by Koch; the Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank; the Global Alliance for Cannabis, a marijuana trade organization; and The Weldon Project, a nonprofit that is dedicated to funding social change and financial aid for individuals who are still imprisoned for marijuana-related offenses.”
“The group hopes Koch’s prominence among conservatives can help sway 10-12 Republicans to join Democrats across the aisle and pass marijuana legislation.”
“Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), during an interview with Politico on Saturday, vowed to move forward with legislation to federally legalize marijuana, even if President Biden resists such a move.”
Read more: Group backed by Charles Koch joins in federal marijuana push after Zoom with Snoop
2021-week14
