"'This movement has got to be about expanding economic opportunities and democratizing those opportunities well. This movement has to be about not allowing us, in any way, to move backwards, but continuing to take strides forward towards justice.'"
SEPTEMBER 23, 2022
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Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) spoke at a marijuana conference on Friday, respectively pushing for federal legalization and encouraging people to apply for state-level pardons for prior cannabis convictions under a recently launched initiative that’s already seen thousands of people apply for relief this month.
The officials discussed cannabis policy objectives in pre-recorded videos that were screened at the 5th annual Cannabis Opportunities Conference. Pro-legalization Pennsylvania State Sen. Sharif Street (D) led the event’s policy summit.
Booker said that “over the past years, we have made incredible strides towards cannabis legalization.”
“With a majority of Americans on both sides of the aisle in support of legalization, we know that this has opportunities,” the senator said. “We need, though, to continue to evolve our focus, our vision, and our strategies to make sure that economically, socially—and especially within our criminal justice system—we are expanding fairness, equality and opportunity.”
He said that local and state reform is critical, but the federal government needs to catch up, which is why he’s sponsoring a Senate legalization bill alongside Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR).
“This legalization movement has really got to continue to focus on removing barriers to justice for marginalized communities,” Booker said. “This movement has got to be about expanding economic opportunities and democratizing those opportunities well. This movement has to be about not allowing us, in any way, to move backwards, but continuing to take strides forward towards justice.”
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