Who?
Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-CA)
LISTEN: Laslo & Butler
Ask 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.
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TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Laphonza Butler
SCENE: 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.”
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Sen. Butler calls SAFER Banking "key leverage point" for Democrats