Congressman speaks out for Sha’Carri Richardson

Tennessee Congressman Steven Cohen joined the chorus of condemnation on Wednesday against the decision to ban U.S. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson from the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for marijuana.

At a House Justice Committee hearing, Rep. Steve Cohen mocked the reasoning put forward for Richardson’s month-long suspension.

“Marijuana is not a performance-enhancing drug unless you compete in the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4th,” said Congressman Cohen, a Democrat who represents the Ninth Ward of Tennessee. “To take away from her the right to appear, to take away her dream from her, is absurd.”

Richardson, 21, will miss the Olympics this summer after a positive marijuana test invalidated her results in US Olympic track and field trials. She won the 100-meter run in last month’s trials in Oregon and was a favorite for gold in Tokyo.

Marijuana is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s List of Prohibited Substances, and both the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committees adhere to the global body’s code.

The USADA states that marijuana is banned because it could pose a health and safety risk to athletes and that cannabis can be performance enhancing for some.

The latter statement was mocked all around, including by Congressman Cohen on Wednesday. The congressman used his time at the reform effort hearing to end condemnation of the differences between crack and cocaine, condemn the war on drugs, and urge members of Congress to decriminalize and decriminalize cannabis.

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Congressman Cohen backs a failed drug war

“Congress should make sure that we don’t have these problems in the future. We say goodbye to marijuana. We leave it to the states. If [Richardson had] from margaritas, Red Bull or whatever you drink out there these days, roaring drunk, lager beers, she would have been fine because it wouldn’t have shown up in her system, and if it had shown up in her system – – if she were 0, 02 Had alcohol – she should still have walked, ”said Congressman Cohen.

“But for marijuana, that could have been 20 days ago, and just a puff or two, it’s gone. So let’s get real The war on drugs is a total failure. Nancy Reagan was wrong. Everyone who followed her and the others who said, “Just say no” were wrong because that wasn’t enough. Let’s pass this bill and decriminalize marijuana and get our people where they won’t be affected by the US Congress’ cultural delay, ”he added

After the positive test result was released, Richardson appeared on the Today show to apologize to fans and regret the decision.

“I want to take responsibility for what I do,” said Richardson. “I know what I’ve done and what I shouldn’t be doing. I know what I’m not allowed to do and I made this decision anyway. I’m not looking for excuses or empathy in my case, but to be in this position of my life and find out something like that – something I would say has had a positive and negative impact on my life when it comes to dealing with Relationship goes with my mother – that was definitely a difficult topic for me. “

At a time when a growing number of states have legalized recreational marijuana use, Richardson’s suspension feels like a relic of an earlier era. And legalization seems to be going federal soon.

In May, Congressman Cohen’s Democratic colleagues in the House of Representatives unveiled the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Exungement Act of 2021, which would decriminalize and remove cannabis from the schedule. And last week, Senate Democrats introduced their own marijuana reform legislation.