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Rep. Tony Cárdenas On Making A Difference In Cannabis Policy

By Shadd Dales On Apr 16, 2024

Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) says, “What I’ve witnessed with politicians specifically… Nothing changes a politician’s willingness to reconsider their position on [cannabis policy] than watching a loved one suffer. And so, we just need to find those individuals who are rigid about not even listening—not even being open to it—and then eventually find those individuals that said ‘I was completely against it until I saw it with my own eyes.’”

In this special Tuesday episode of TDR’s Trade To Black podcast, we continue our special coverage from Washington, DC. Join us for a fireside chat with California Democratic Representative Tony Cárdenas. We discuss what is really holding back progress in cannabis policy and what citizens can do to try to effect changes with their representation in Capitol Hill.

While the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act has both its fans and detractors, at least the majority of politicians seem to be adequately informed about the aim of the proposed legislation. However, when asked about the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recommendation to have cannabis rescheduled from its current position as a Schedule I drug, we found that the conversations became quite drastically different.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Schedule I is a list of substances, drugs, or chemicals with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. On how marijuana ended up listed that way, Tony Cárdenas says, “If you look at the transcript of Congress, it was completely, totally derogatory and fear-mongering about why they should make it a Schedule I drug.”

Nothing is better than first-hand experience. Don’t miss out on this special Q&A with Rep. Tony Cárdenas. Also, as we count down the days until Benzinga, keep a tab on our live streams and podcasts. TDR will be on location, and there will be lots of great information ahead.

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Shadd Dales is the Founder and President of The Dales Report and has an extensive background in the business media industry.

His work translates into over 15 years in mainstream media that included roles with BNN Bloomberg, CTV Properties and the iHeart Radio Network.

Shadd is considered one of the leading on air talents in both the cannabis and psychedelic space and has interviewed some of the most notable CEO names in the industry.

Shadd’s vision is to establish a content platform that is equivalent to a mainstream broadcast produced in a format that is relevant for today’s investor.