420 with CNW — Incoming DNC Chair Could Be Pro-C
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On Thursday, party leaders are expected to confirm former South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jaime Harrison as the lead for the Democratic National Committee. If confirmed, Harrison, who is President Joe Biden’s preferred pick, will be responsible for coordinating national political activities for Democrats.
The DNC is a strong supporter of cannabis legalization. Harrison had made a run for Senate last year but failed to be elected. In July last year, he stated that marijuana should be legalized, regulated and taxed much like tobacco and alcohol, adding that there was no medical reason to lock up individuals because of it.
Harrison explained that cannabis arrests, inclusive of simple possession charges, made up a huge number of drug arrests. He observed that the racial disparities in cannabis enforcement was unacceptable, especially if one factored in that, while both white and Black men smoked cannabis at the same rates, Black men were much more likely to be arrested for possession of cannabis.
Harrison also criticized then Attorney General Jeff Sessions for revoking a Justice Department policy that had been established during the Obama era, which offered guidance to prosecutors on federal marijuana enforcement.
However, despite the supermajority support for the change in policy among Democrats, President Biden still maintains an opposition to the legalization of marijuana. In place of this, he supports decriminalizing possession of the drug, allowing states to establish their own policies free of federal intervention, expunging individual’s past records, modest rescheduling and the legalization of medical marijuana.
Harrison would replace Tom Perez if he is formally elected as the DNC lead. Perez’s views on cannabis policy aren’t as clear as the incoming party chair.
Apart from Harrison, Biden announced that he wanted Gov. Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island to run the Commerce Department. The governor had backed the legalization in 2019 and had also released a budget proposal in 2020 that demanded a regulatory model for marijuana that would be run by the state.
Biden also picked his nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services to be California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Becerra, who is open to reform, would assist federal marijuana rescheduling.
For associate attorney general, Biden is set to nominate civil rights activist and former prosecutor Vanita Gupta. Gupta not only favors marijuana legalization but has strongly condemned harsh criminalization policies for nonviolent drug offenses.
In states where cannabis is legal, companies are increasingly unveiling innovations taking the industry to higher levels. For example, California-based Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: GRYN) is leveraging its unique technology to produce bioactive cannabinoids that meet the stringent pharmaceutical industry requirements.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: GRYN) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/GRYN
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