Betty Aldworth returns to join us for a discussion on what 2020 will mean for cannabis policy reform and for Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). She strongly believes that 2020 will be one of the biggest years for legislative reform the movement has ever seen: “In 2020, we are looking at as many as 8 or 11 valid initiatives in states plus another 8 or 11 states taking up viable marijuana legalization legislation in their state houses or assemblies for either adult or medical use.” Besides state legislation, Aldworth also says that 2020 should be a big year for federal reform as well. Although the STATES Act has gotten a lot of attention from cannabis activists, Aldworth believes that the MORE Act is what we should be focusing on, as it is more likely to get passed. She also discusses exciting work happening in Oregon and other states, access to medical cannabis, homegrow, and more.
Seth Adler:
Betty Aldworth returns. Welcome to Cannabis Economy. I'm your host Seth Adler. Download episodes on Canneconomy.com, that's two N's and the word economy, or wherever you currently get your podcasts. First a word from our supporter, and then Betty Aldworth.
Seth Adler:
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Seth Adler:
Oh my god. It's sensible. It's Betty Aldworth. Betty, how are you?
Betty Aldworth:
Hey, Seth. I'm great. How are you?
Seth Adler:
Good. I'm just going to point out the dinosaur in the room immediately. For those experiencing this on video can see the dinosaur behind you. Does the dinosaur have a name?
Betty Aldworth:
The dinosaur might have a name. It belongs to a friend. I'm in glorious Los Angeles today where it is a 75 degrees.
Seth Adler:
Wow. I'm in Yonkers, New York where it's not.
Betty Aldworth:
75. No, it is very cold.
Seth Adler:
Here we are 2020, and I want to talk about that two different ways. Number one is I want to talk about the year, and then number two is I want to talk about the decade. But first things first, SSDP, we kind of tend to do this actually every year.
Betty Aldworth:
Yeah.
Seth Adler:
2020, what do we need to know SSDP style?
Betty Aldworth:
So folks know that 2020 is like going to be a big year of marijuana policy reform. I don't think that anyone really understands just how... Not anyone, a lot of people understand. But let us put the point on it over and over again. 2020 is the year for marijuana policy reform. It will go down in history as the second most important year I think in this [inaudible 00:02:32] in the United States partial to 2012 as the first year for my work with them at 64 in Colorado. But in 2020, we are looking at as many as eight or 11 valid initiatives in states plus another eight or 11 states taking up viable marijuana legalization legislation in their state houses or assemblies for either adult or medical use. So this year's going to be the busiest year for cannabis policy reform in a lot of different ways that we've ever seen.
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