Mitch McConnell works with Democrats on infrastructure, what about cannabis?

While it was like pulling the teeth out of the mouth of a great white shark at depths that would give most people the bend, the Senate has just passed a massive $ 1 trillion infrastructure bill designed to do this is repairing roads, upgrading internet technology, funding green energy, and so on. It’s something that President Joe Biden has wanted to get in the books since he took office. However, this has proven difficult to achieve as Congress is equally divided.

The Democrats needed Republican support or it was doomed to fail. But then something wonderful happened last week: Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, apparently abandoning his vigilance, went bipartisan. He voted for the infrastructure plan, proving that he is not trying to sabotage the Democratic agenda and that maybe – just maybe – he can improve America’s course.

Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

“I was proud to support today’s historic bipartisan infrastructure deal and to prove that both sides of the political gang can still come together to find sensible solutions,” McConnell said said in a statement on Tuesday. “By promoting sensible, cooperative legislation, we have shown that the Senate continues to function as an institution. This is a major achievement for Kentucky and the American people. “

McConnell’s willingness to go against his Republican DNA for a moment is encouraging. After all, it was only a few months ago that he said he was “100%” focused on stopping the Biden administration. The Kentucky Republican is undoubtedly a problem when it comes to passing Democratic law. Anything suggested that year that he could kill, McConnell came for blood. He has also hinted that all Democratic victories celebrated in filibuster-safe movements will be met with vengeance once Republicans return to power.

But where is the self-proclaimed Capitol Hill Grim Reaper with other problems on his mind right now? What about legal weed?

RELATED: Mitch McConnell is Still the Capitol Hill Cannabis Grim Reaper

Last month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer finally unveiled his long-awaited cannabis legalization bill in an attempt to put cannabis on the US trade map, along with alcohol and tobacco. Schumer needs at least 60 votes in the upper chamber to get it through. According to his own statements, he doesn’t have it. “We currently do not have the necessary votes” Schumer said. However, when McConnell is finally ready to work with the Democrats, he could help collect the missing votes.

The only problem is that McConnell’s bipartisan tendencies seem to have ended with the infrastructure. He recently told the Wall Street Journal that he no longer saw Republicans working with Democrats again.

Photo by Tom Brenner-Pool / Getty Images

“Infrastructure is popular with both Republicans and Democrats” McConnell said. “The American people, divided, sent us a 50-50 Senate and a tightly divided house. I don’t think the message from that was, ‘Do absolutely nothing.’ And if you can find an area with potential agreement, I can’t think of a better one than the much-needed infrastructure. “

While the American people may be divided, the majority think legal marijuana is a good idea. National polls have consistently voted over 60% in favor of taxing and regulating cannabis like alcohol, which is exactly what Schumer’s proposal is supposed to do. McConnell is not in favor of legalization and does not plan to endorse it. Still, as McConnell said, he doesn’t believe that the American electorate wants Congress to do absolutely nothing.

RELATED: Marijuana is bipartisan, but that doesn’t mean government legalization is a safe bet

Interestingly, McConnell may have unwittingly endorsed a cannabis delivery by throwing his support behind the new infrastructure contract. The infrastructure bill includes a provision designed to expand medical marijuana research opportunities in the United States. It would allow researchers to use the same retail-grade cannabis bought by consumers in legal states, rather than constantly relying on the substandard stuff grown by the University of Mississippi.

The quality of marijuana research has been controversial in the scientific community for years. Researchers have complained that they cannot properly uncover the true magic of the cannabis plant because the products they receive are far inferior to those sold in the legal markets.

It’s a small win for weed, but given decades of ignorance, ridicule, and inaction, we’re putting it on for now. Unfortunately, these could be the best advocates this year.