Republicans from legal marijuana states will not vote for state legalization

Marijuana. It’s now more popular in the United States than sliced ​​bread, baseball, and reality TV. About 90% of the country’s population believe that weed should be legal for adults 21 and older – just like alcohol and tobacco – and that Uncle Sam should find a way to capitalize on it and force the police to focus on the actual crime to concentrate.

So far, around 17 states have legalized it this way, so there’s no stopping it now. Well not exactly. Regardless of how much steam the cannabis movement is gaining at the state level, the case for cannabis just doesn’t seem to find the support it needs at the federal level to finally become a legitimate part of the American trade. Congress is still far too divided to get cannabis legalization nationwide.

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There seems to be all kinds of bipartisan support for cannabis reform on Capitol Hill. The public is bombarded with headlines every week suggesting that Democrats and Republicans are working tirelessly together to end the U.S. marijuana ban once and for all. While there is a glimmer of truth in this news, the reality is only a handful of Congressmen focused on changing state cannabis laws. To that end, even those who appear to be advocating mega-marijuana reforms don’t necessarily fully support them. Cannabis advocates have said for years that Republicans will have no choice but to adapt as more states legalize the leaf.

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The truth is, none of them care too much about where voters are going regarding drug reform. While some Republicans are in favor of limited action, most would not vote for marijuana legalization at the federal level.

“I’m against it,” Montana Senator Steve Daines told Politics. Daines admits he supports the SAFE Banking Act – a measure that would allow cannabis establishments to do business with financial institutions – but refuses to participate in any effort to end the federal marijuana ban. “The people in Montana decided that they want it to be legal in our state, and that’s why I support the SAFE Banking Act – it’s the right thing – but I don’t support state legalization.”

RELATED: Convincing Mitch McConnell to Endorse Legal Weed Is Still the Only Way It Happens

The news source says it spoke to a dozen GOP senators who represent states with medical and recreational marijuana laws, and none would commit to voting for statewide legalization. Some said they were open to the possibility of decriminalization, but certainly not to a taxed and regulated market. No way. That means cannabis advocates must try to find hope in something else, because Republicans don’t give two splashes when their voters are for weeds.

Senator Joe Manchin. Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

It’s not just Republicans who stand in the way of progress. The truth is, there are still plenty of Democrats out there who are also against marijuana. Among them are Democratic Senators Jon Tester and Jeanne Shaheen. As far as we know, so are Senators Joe Manchin and Sherrod Brown. Others are likely to oppose it if Senator Chuck Schumer ever finds the courage to introduce the sweeping cannabis reform bill he has been talking about for the past five months.

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

Schumer was hot at the start of his role as majority leader, saying marijuana reform was a priority for the Senate. But most of the time, his butt was given as the Senate Republicans continue to play the filibuster to keep all laws from getting passed. Schumer cannot even get his own party to support an end to this Senate rule to advance the entire democratic agenda. Senators Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema will not take part even if he tries.

Let’s be clear, Schumer needs every Democratic member to vote to end the filibuster in order to destroy it. He also needs them if he wants to legalize weed. But because a marijuana bill would also require some Republican support – at least 10 votes – it has become painfully evident in recent months that Democrats cannot and will not legalize marijuana this year.