SAFER Banking is "overdue," Sen. Coons says. "We have to harmonize banking laws"
Ep. 2 — Sen. Chris Coons: Ask a Pol's 2nd of 100 exclusive marijuana interview with each US senator
Who?
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) — Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees
LISTEN: Laslo & Coons
Ask a Pol asks:
Do you have thoughts on the DEA moving to reschedule marijuana?
Key Coons:
“Look, I think it's supported by the science and experience that it doesn't have the same impacts as Class I drugs, like methamphetamine,” Sen. Coons exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “As a majority of states have moved to decriminalize or, in many cases, legalize marijuana consumption, I think it’s led to a broad-scale reexamination.”
SAFER Banking?
“Support it,” Coons told us. “We have to harmonize banking laws so that it's not impossible to conduct regular commercial banking activity.”
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), slightly edited for clarity.
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TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Chris Coons
SCENE: Sen. Chris Coons is walking between the two Senate trams on his way to the US Capitol for a vote when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo runs into him and proceeds to accompany him to the bank of elevators underneath the Senate floor.
Matt Laslo: “Do you have thoughts on the DEA moving to reschedule marijuana?”
Two trains pass by the pair.
Chris Coons: “I don’t know the details other than it’s, I believe, rescheduling from — what is it? Class I to Class III?”
ML: “Class I, I think they’re bringing it down to, maybe, Class III.”
CC: “That’s exactly what I just said.”
ML: “Oh, pardon me. The trains.”
Laslo laughs.
CC: “Look, I think it's supported by the science and experience that it doesn't have the same impacts as Class I drugs, like methamphetamine. And as a majority of states have moved to decriminalize or, in many cases, legalize marijuana consumption, I think it’s led to a broad-scale reexamination...”
Coons trails off.
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ML: “You sound a little hesitant about the substance though. Not a big fan?”
CC: “You put — you’re literally putting words in my mouth.”
ML: “Oh I know, but that’s where I’m curious…”
CC: “It’s not what I said.”
ML: “No? Where are you on SAFER Banking?”
CC: “Support it. States around Delaware have fully — states in my region have fully legalized. We're now on a path towards full legalization in Delaware. We have to harmonize banking laws so that it's not impossible to conduct regular commercial banking activity, y’know. It’s overdue.”
ML: “Yeah? Thank you, sir. Have a good one.”
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