Sen. Butler calls SAFER Banking "key leverage point" for Democrats

Who?Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-CA)LISTEN: Laslo & ButlerAsk a Pol asks:Any thoughts on the DEA — Drug Enforcement Administration — moving to reschedule marijuana on their own?Key Butler: “I wish it had happened years ago when states like mine were moved forward to create commerce and economic opportunity,” Sen. Laphonza Butler exclusively told Ask a Pol. Can SAFER be a leverage for clemency?“SAFER Banking won't be able to advance truly without those restorative justice elements,” Butler told us. “It's got to go hand in hand.”Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-CA), slightly edited for clarity.ICYMI — Join Ask a Pol’s VIP subscriber-only chat!*Student? Lost your gig? Hard times? Been there. Got you. No questions asked. Just ping us.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Laphonza ButlerSCENE: Sen. Butler exits an underground tram and heads to the US Capitol to cast a vote on the Senate floor. Matt Laslo: “Hey, how are you, ma’am?”Laphonza Butler: “Good, sir. How are you doing?” ML: “Livin’ the dream.”LB: “I bet.”ML: “Curious your thoughts on the DEA moving to reschedule marijuana on their own?”LB: “Look, there's been a conversation that has been going on in our country and states and communities for years now. And it's really always been about — the linchpin really has always been about how is the federal government gonna show up as a supportive instrument for the change that's happening in communities across the country. And so I applaud the effort. I wish it had happened years ago when states like mine were moving forward to create commerce and economic opportunity. But here we are.”ML: “And now, SAFER Banking Act — do you see that as potential leverage for getting something like clemency at the federal level on this or…?”LB: “We have to have the restorative justice elements. I think SAFER Banking won't be able to advance truly without those restorative justice elements. And so I think it is gonna be a key leverage point for getting those kinds of reliefs that communities across the country need.”ML: “It seems like Republicans are there when it comes to the banking, but then you talk about black and brown folks still left up there…”LB: “Exactly. So, if they want it — so it's got to go hand in hand. It's got to go hand in hand.”ML: “I’ll be watching.”LB: “I appreciate you.”ML: “Preciate ya. Have a good one.”Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe