Convincing Mitch McConnell to back legal weed is still the only way it happens

There is no doubt that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is turning his wheels trying to figure out how he will “soon” enact and actually enforce a comprehensive marijuana reform law. Despite being technically the long, strong arm of the hill, Schumer learned in just a few months that he doesn’t have the clout to accomplish much if Republicans continue to get in the way.

And they won’t worry about that either.

You’re making life difficult for Schumer in this session, and that won’t change if he talks about legal weed. But it’s not that he’s running against the entire Republican Party. Schumer could quickly legalize marijuana nationwide this year. All he has to do is convince Mitch McConnell it’s the right thing to do.

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While McConnell is no longer responsible for dictating which laws go to the Senate, he can block most Democratic laws with the filibuster – a Senate rule that requires 60 votes. Additionally, McConnell still has the political leverage to command enough GOP senators to oppose a matter and make it fail. He tells them to jump and they ask how high. “I don’t really like it, but when he decides to tell his caucus they usually fall into line,” said Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia told NBC news. “When he tells them, ‘Stay with me,’ they usually do.”

Put simply, Republicans do what McConnell wants.

“We stay with him. He is a good leader. He’s a good negotiator. He understands the program and the Senate and everyone I know, “said Republican Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama.

RELATED: Schumer Learns He Hasn’t What It Takes To Legalize Marijuana

That means that whatever it takes Schumer to promote his idea of ​​legal weed in the United States gets McConnell on the side of the problem. But that is easier said than done. McConnell wants to paralyze the Democratic agenda this year first. He recently said“Our focus is one hundred percent on stopping this new administration.” Besides, McConnell is not a fan of marijuana, nor is he the least bit interested in getting a law legalized. Last year, McConnell criticized the House Democrats for their last-minute efforts to legalize weed during the pandemic.

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Schumer is probably scurrying around the hill right now, trying to get support for his marijuana bill when it finally gets rolled out. He’s been talking a lot of applause for months about what gives cannabis advocates hope that legal weed is just around the corner. It is not. Schumer has to sell McConnell of the concept if he wants to bypass the filibuster and get the Republican majority on board.

RELATED: Why Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is a Problem for Cannabis Reform

Everyone but Schumer seems to understand that this is the only way. However, it is only discussed as an option to put an end to the filibuster. And while the filibuster’s demise may be long overdue, it is not an immediate answer to perpetual cannabis reform.

Any laws passed in a scenario where the filibuster was destroyed would undoubtedly result in these guidelines being repealed once the Republicans are back in power. Senator Cory Booker, who works with Schumer on national marijuana legalization, recently said he was working to get the 10 Republican votes needed to bypass the filibuster. In reality, Senator McConnell is leading to the supercritical 10 votes. Unfortunately, federal marijuana legalization won’t happen until he believes in the Bud.