Rep. Lou Correa on Biden admin. & marijuana: "They gotta reschedule it absolutely"

Who?Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA)Ask a Pol asks:“I hear that the DEA might move to reschedule cannabis next month. Have you heard that?”Key Correa:“No, but I hope that you’re right. I hope that that’s right. They gotta reschedule it absolutely,” Correa told Ask a Pol. “For a hundred different reasons. From the public safety perspective, from the societal perspective — that this should not be a criminal issue — and, of course, there are some medical properties to cannabis. Needs to be studied, and can you imagine the opportunities presented to universities that can begin to study cannabis for its medical properties without fearing losing federal funding? Gotta do it. The horse is out of the barn, you can’t put it back! Genie is out of the bottle!”LISTEN: Laslo & CorreaBelow find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Lou CorreaMatt Laslo: “You know what a birdie’s telling me?”Lou Correa: “What’s that?”Matt Laslo: “I hear that the DEA might move to reschedule cannabis next month. Have you heard that?”LC: “No, but I hope that you’re right. I hope that that’s right. They gotta reschedule it absolutely.”ML: “Why would that be important?”LC: “For a hundred different reasons. From the public safety perspective, from the societal perspective — that this should not be a criminal issue — and, of course, there are some medical properties to cannabis. Needs to be studied, and can you imagine the opportunities presented to universities that can begin to study cannabis for its medical properties without fearing losing federal funding? Gotta do it. The horse is out of the barn, you can’t put it back! Genie is out of the bottle!”ML: “But if Biden’s the horse, he’s in the barn cause he’s a prohibitionist.”Correa groans.LC: “Will have to talk to Mrs. Biden and tell her he’s got to get with the program.”ML: “Right? Appreciate ya. Have a good one.”Matt Laslo’s a veteran congressional correspondent, new media prof. & founder of Ask a Pol — a new, people-powered press corps.Ask a Pol — asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoluaps.com/subscribe