Episodes

  • Sen. John Fetterman bemoans cannabis movement losing "steam over the last couple years"

    Sen. John Fetterman bemoans cannabis movement losing "steam over the last couple years"
    Feb 15 2025

    Who?

    Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) — Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee

    LISTEN: Laslo & Fetterman

    Ask a Pol asked:

    President Donald Trump tapped Terrance Cole from Virginia as his DEA nominee. He’s been anti-cannabis his entire life. How will that impact rescheduling?

    Key Fetterman:

    “It’s undeniable that the legal weed movement have taken, have lost some steam over the last couple years,” Sen. John Fetterman exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “And that’s disappointing, because it’s not controversial to anyone other than the extreme fringes.”

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    “I never judge anybody whatever they use or need to knock the edge off of life”

    — Sen. John Fetterman

    Caught our ear:

    “We’re still struggling and dicking around, and we should just make legal weed,” Fetterman tells us.

    Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), slightly edited for clarity.

    TRANSCRIPT: Sen. John Fetterman

    SCENE: Sen. John Fetterman’s heading back to his office across the street from the US Capitol via the Senate’s busy basement when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo catches him for a cannabis chat.

    Matt Laslo: “How are you sir?”

    They’re at a distance…

    ML: “You probably haven’t heard of him, but the new DEA pick from Trump is anti-marijuana. This guy, Terrance Cole, from Virginia. You think it’s good or bad to have someone that’s in charge of DEA and rescheduling…”

    John Fetterman: “Well, I, am very, very pro legal weed. And anyone that knows even a germ about my record knows that I’m very pro legal weed. And, I…”

    ML: “Are you worried, is it harder, though, because the DEA was trying to reschedule…”

    JF: “Yeah, no, I mean, it’s undeniable that the legal weed movement have taken, have lost some steam over the last couple years.”

    ML: “Yeah?”

    JF: “And that’s disappointing, because it’s not controversial to anyone other than the extreme fringes. And I’ve, six years ago, literally right now, I would be in a room walking in Red and Blue County, literally, when I was LG [Lieutenant Governor], and Red County Pennsylvania said, ‘hey, we want legal weed, it’s not controversial’. So, here we are, six years later, I might be in the Senate but now we’re still struggling and dicking around and we should just make legal weed.”

    ML: “Yeah?”

    JF: “I mean, it’s legal here in DC. It’s anarchy, like…ahhh!”

    Fetterman makes a screaming impression. Laslo laughs.

    JF: “Things are — ‘s**t’s crazy,’ because, you know? So, that’s the point, it’s not a big deal.”

    ML: “Yeah?”

    JF: “If I could go walk in there and buy a gigantic, if I could buy a giant bottle of Jack, you know, somehow the world still. Same with Zin.”

    ML: “Yeah?”

    JF: “Same with Zin. It’s like, adults should have the right to consume, you know, all of these kind of products. I never judge anybody whatever they use or need to knock the edge off of life.”

    ML: “The weed I grow, it’s taller than you and I, here in the District.”

    Laslo and Fetterman laugh.

    JF: “Yeah?”

    ML: “Have a good one!”

    Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.

    Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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    3 mins
  • Freedom Caucus Chair Harris plans to “have a talk with RFK Jr." about harms of marijuana; open to psychedelics though

    Freedom Caucus Chair Harris plans to “have a talk with RFK Jr." about harms of marijuana; open to psychedelics though
    Feb 8 2025

    Who?

    Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) — Chair, House Freedom Caucus

    LISTEN: Laslo & Harris

    Ask a Pol asks:

    Do you have any thoughts…

    Key Harris:

    “Marijuana’s harmful,” Rep. Andy Harris told Ask a Pol. “I’ll have a talk with RFK Jr. I mean, the bottom line is, we should make sure that we keep Americans healthy by limiting the use of marijuana.”

    ICYMI — Laslo’s wire service, The LCB, first sold this to Marijuana Moment

    Caught our ear:

    What do you think of RFK Jr.’s stance on psychedelics — using them to treat PTSD and stuff like that?

    “It might be possible. We may want to do some more research,” Harris said. “But we don’t want to do what DC did, which was make just them widely available.”

    Below, you’ll find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), slightly edited for clarity.

    TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Andy Harris

    SCENE: Rep. Andy Harris is walking through one of the US House Office Buildings when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo approaches him and he instantly brings up RFK Jr. and cannabis…

    Matt Laslo: “Hey, how are you sir? Do you have any thoughts….”

    Andy Harris: “Marijuana’s harmful…”

    Laslo laughs.

    AH: “….showed it — largest study ever. So we should definitely — I’ll have a talk with RFK Jr. I mean, the bottom line is, we should make sure that we keep Americans healthy by limiting the use of marijuana.”

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    ML: “I was going to ask your thoughts on Gaza.”

    Laslo laughs.

    ML: “Do you — what do you think of his stance on psychedelics?”

    AH: “On what?”

    ML: “Psychedelics. Using them to treat PTSD and stuff like that.”

    AH: “It might be possible. We may want to do some more research.”

    ML: “Yeah?”

    AH: “But we don’t want to do what DC did, which was make just them widely available, ya know?”

    Harris enters elevator.

    ML: “Yeah?”

    Elevator doors close.

    Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.

    Content posted at AskaPolDrugs.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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    2 mins
  • "Such a boomer thing to say," Rep. Omar mocks Trump's DEA pick

    "Such a boomer thing to say," Rep. Omar mocks Trump's DEA pick
    Jan 25 2025
    Who?Ilhan Omar (D-MN) — Co-chair, Congressional Cannabis CaucusLISTEN: Laslo & OmarAsk a Pol asks:Do you know anything about Trump’s nominee to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration, Derek Maltz?Key Omar:“No? Maltz who?” Rep. Ilhan Omar exclusively tells Ask a Pol. He says it's a ‘gateway drug…’ “What is he, a 100 years old?” Omar says. “All of that has been debunked for a really long time, but I think it's such a boomer thing to say…” ICYMI — Omar exclusive first sold to Marijuana MomentCaught our ear:“We are not advocating for legalizing it so that kids can utilize it,” Omar tells us. “So I have no idea why he's talking about kids.” Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Ilhan OmarSCENE: There’s a vote underway on the House floor when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo runs into Rep. Omar’s walking back to her office…Matt Laslo: “You're going the wrong way.”Ilhan Omar: “I know. They called votes and I started to see members, and I was like ‘What are we doing, what is going on?’ Came out of meeting, so I didn’t know.”ML: “Do you know anything about this [Derek] Maltz guy who was tapped to lead the DEA?”ICYMI — 100 of 100 US senators on SAFER Banking ActIO: “No. Maltz who?”ML: “That’s what I'm saying.”Omar laughs. ML: “But — and this is my wire service, one of our clients is Marijuana Moment — and so I just told him to send me all his opinions, he says, it's a ‘gateway drug,’ that cannabis is. ‘That all the irresponsible politicians trying to get votes by legalizing marijuana. Maybe it's time to understand the negative impacts from smoking this crap.’”IO: “What is he, a 100 years old?”ML: “Right?”IO: “All of that has been debunked for a really long time, but I think it's such a boomer thing to say, I don't know how old this man is, but — right?”ML: “And then he says, ‘it's actually causing psychosis, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety. So it's really a gateway drug for these kids that don't know any better.’” IO: “Well, first of all, there are — we are not advocating for legalizing it so that kids can utilize it. So I have no idea why he's talking about kids.”ML: “Right?”IO: “Yeah.”ML: “Do you worry about even, like, the mental health claims he's making?”IO: “No, it's actually helpful.”ML: “It's helpful?”Consider supporting our independent journalism from your US Capitol! Consider chipping in to support our independent journalism —Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!IO: “Yes.”ML: “Cause you can so easily debunk it?”IO: “Yess — but, I mean, no. It's helpful for a lot of people who are struggling with all types of stuff.” ML: “Yeah?”IO: “Yeah.”ML: “Amen. Preciate ya.”Andrey Beregovskiy contributed to this report. Content posted at AskaPolDrugs.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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    3 mins
  • New Cannabis Caucus Co-chair Omar: "The hope is to be a little bit louder than what we’ve been”

    New Cannabis Caucus Co-chair Omar: "The hope is to be a little bit louder than what we’ve been”
    Jan 19 2025
    SCROLL DOWN TO LISTEN FOR FREE! Who?Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) — Co-chair, Congressional Cannabis CaucusLISTEN: Laslo & OmarAsk a Pol asks:We heard that you're a new co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus. Have you started any talks on the marijuana policy here?Key Omar:“It's still preliminary. None of us have met yet,” Rep. Ilhan Omar exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “We're still very in the early stages of organizing ourselves here in Congress.” ICYMI — Interview informed Marijuana Moment’s articleCaught our ear:“The hope is to be a little bit louder than what we’ve been,” Omar tells us. Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Ilhan OmarSCENE: As Rep. Ilhan Omar’s making her way to the House floor to vote, Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo runs into her in the tunnel connecting House Office Buildings to the US Capitol. Matt Laslo: “I hear that you're a new co-chair of the cannabis caucus.”Ilhan Omar: “I am. Yes, sir.”ICYMI — 100 of 100 US senators on SAFER Banking ActML: “What do you see — like, it just doesn't seem it's gonna be a big priority for the new incoming administration. Or are you guys having talks?” IO: “With the new — no, no. We had…”ML: “Or bipartisan talks here?” IO: “No, no, it's still preliminary. None of us have met yet. Actually, had my first conversation with my co-chair yesterday.”ML: “Oh yeah? It went well?” They enter an elevator in the basement of the Capitol. IO: “We're still very in the early stages of organizing ourselves here in Congress, so…”ML: “Cause even your party hasn't moved on of it — [Dem Senate Leader Chuck] Schumer never brought SAFER [Banking Act] to the floor.” IO: “Yeah.” ML: “So do you think you guys are gonna have an influence in your own party, as well as trying to reach across the aisle?”They exit the elevator just off the House floor. IO: “Yeah. The hope is to be a little bit louder than what we’ve been.” ML: “Yeah?”IO: “Yeah.”ML: “Are you figuring out, like, how to affix it to the agenda?”IO: “Yeah. I mean, I come from a state that it's legalized, that's done it really well and I think we bring a uniquer voice to the issue.”ML: “And now, as to your colleagues, three-quarters of the nation it’s legal.” IO: “Yeah.”ML: “Like, do they get that in all these conservatives there?”IO: “Well, that's our hope. At least, to speak to their libertarian senses.”ML: “Yeah? It almost seems that psychedelics are now more en vogue and cannabis is now being passed over?” IO: “Cause it should be a given at this point. And that's the point we're gonna try to make.”ML: “Preciate ya.”Andrey Beregovskiy contributed to this report.Content posted at AskaPolDrugs.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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    3 mins
  • Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin "a fan" of SAFER Banking Act

    Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin "a fan" of SAFER Banking Act
    Jan 9 2025

    SCROLL DOWN TO LISTEN FOR FREE!

    Who?

    Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)

    LISTEN: Laslo & Slotkin

    Ask a Pol asks:

    Do you know where you are on SAFER Banking Act?

    Key Slotkin:

    “I'm a fan. I believe in it,” Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “I couldn't explain to you why people don't support it on either side of the aisle.”

    Caught our ear:

    “I want that industry — that's now worth billions of dollars and legal in the United States — to be able to bank,” Slotkin tells us.

    Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), slightly edited for clarity.

    ICYMI — 100 of 100 US senators on SAFER Banking Act

    TRANSCRIPT: Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin

    SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo runs into Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin as she’s casting one of her last votes in the US House of Representatives in December 2024.

    Matt Laslo: “Do you know where you are on SAFER Banking Act?”

    Elissa Slotkin: “Pardon?”

    ML: “SAFER Banking Act — it’s the cannabis…”

    ES: “SAFE — I don't think it's SAFER, is it?”

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    ML: “It used to be SAFE…”

    ES: “Oh really. Oh, okay.”

    ML: “…and then they added the ‘R'.’”

    ES: “I am a co-sponsor.”

    ML: “Yeah.”

    ES: “I'm a fan. I believe in it, and I don't understand why we — I couldn't explain to you why people don't support it…”

    Subscriber only sneak peak:

    New list of all 100 senators on SAFER in 119th Congress

    ML: “Yeah?”

    ES: “…like, on either side of the aisle.”

    ML: “Yeah? What do you make of the talking points. Like, being there in Michigan, like, the reality looks a lot different than the talking points on that issue.”

    ES: “On that issue?”

    ML: “Yeah.”

    ES: “Oh, I don't know what the talking points are. I can just tell you that I want that industry — that's now worth billions of dollars and legal in the United States — to be able to bank.”

    ML: “Yeah?”

    ES: “That's it. That's it.”

    Laslo laughs.

    ES: “Period.”

    Slotkin heads to the House floor to vote.

    ML: “I'll be watchin. Thank you ma’am.”

    LJ Dawson contributed to this reporting.

    Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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    2 mins
  • Incoming Majority Leader Thune "not a fan" of SAFER Banking for marijuana

    Incoming Majority Leader Thune "not a fan" of SAFER Banking for marijuana
    Jan 4 2025

    Who?

    Sen. John Thune (R-SD) — Incoming Senate Majority Leader

    LISTEN: Laslo & Thune

    Ask a Pol asks:

    What are your thoughts on the SAFER Banking Act?

    Key Thune:

    “I’m not a fan,” Sen. John Thune exclusively tells Ask a Pol.

    ICYMI — SALE!!! Subscribe today!

    Caught our ear:

    Any thoughts on the DEA rescheduling marijuana?

    “Ummm,” Thune replied, then kept on walking into the US Capitol.

    Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. John Thune (R-SD), slightly edited for clarity.

    TRANSCRIPT: Sen. John Thune I

    SCENE: Thune’s walking into the Capitol to cast an early evening vote when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo asks him a quick question.

    Matt Laslo: “Your thoughts on the DEA rescheduling marijuana?”

    John Thune: “Ummm…”

    The incoming majority leader said nothing and just kept walking.

    Happy Holidays!

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    TRANSCRIPT: Sen. John Thune II

    ML: “Sen. Thune, where are you…”

    JT: “What’s that?”

    ML: “Follow-up to my question last week. Where are you on SAFER Banking Act?”

    JT: “I'm not a fan. I mean, I know we have people that — on our side that are for it, but I'm not.”

    ML: “Yep. Thank you.”

    Andrey Beregovskiy contributed to this report.

    Content posted at AskaPolDrugs.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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    1 min
  • Sen. Sullivan on SAFER Banking Act: “I don’t know what that is”

    Sen. Sullivan on SAFER Banking Act: “I don’t know what that is”
    Jan 3 2025

    Who?

    Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK)

    LISTEN: Laslo & Sullivan

    Ask a Pol asks:

    Are you still supportive of SAFER Banking Act?

    Key Sullivan:

    “SAFE Banking?” Sen. Sullivan exclusively told Ask a Pol.

    It’s SAFER Banking Act now.

    “I don’t know what that is,” Sullivan said.

    Caught our ear:

    “Yeah. I haven’t seen that one yet,” Sullivan told us of SAFER.

    Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), slightly edited for clarity.

    ICYMI — Ask a Pol’s End of Year BLOWOUT SALE!

    TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Dan Sullivan

    SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo hops an elevator with Sen. Dan Sullivan after he leaves the Senate chamber and heads back to his office.

    Matt Laslo: “Are you still supportive of SAFER Banking? Or are you kinda watching?”

    Dan Sullivan: “SAFE Banking?”

    ML: “SAFE Banking but not SAFER?”

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    DS: “I don’t know what that is.”

    ML: “That’s the new, that’s the new one.”

    Staffer: “Who’s the — who’s on top of it?”

    ML: “It’s the one that went through Banking [Housing and Urban Affairs] Committee, [Sen. Mike] Rounds and them.”

    DS: “Yeah, I haven’t seen that one yet.”

    ML: “Yeah. Preciate ya.”

    Andrey Beregovskiy and Walken Whalen contributed to this report.

    Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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    1 min
  • Democratic Sen. Shaheen: "I’m not a supporter of legalizing marijuana"

    Democratic Sen. Shaheen: "I’m not a supporter of legalizing marijuana"
    Jan 3 2025

    Who?

    Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

    LISTEN: Laslo & Shaheen

    Ask a Pol asks:

    What are your thoughts on the DEA — Drug Enforcement Administration — moving to reschedule marijuana?

    Key Shaheen:

    “I have some concerns about it,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen exclusively told Ask a Pol.

    Shaheen on SAFER

    Undecided.

    Caught our ear:

    “I’m not a supporter of legalizing marijuana,” Shaheen told us.

    Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), slightly edited for clarity.

    ICYMI — don’t miss our end-of-year BLOWOUT SALE!

    TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

    SCENE: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s walking through the basement of the US Capitol when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo catches up with her as she rides an elevator up to the Senate chamber, along with Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

    Matt Laslo: “Ma’am, I was curious, what are your thoughts on the DEA moving to reschedule marijuana?”

    Jeanne Shaheen: “I have some concerns about it.”

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    *Student? Lost your gig? Hard times? Been there. Got you. No questions asked. Just ping us.

    ML: “Yeah?”

    JS: “I haven’t had the chance to see the details, but I’m not a supporter of legalizing marijuana.”

    ML: “Yeah. And you — your apprehension to — I guess, you haven’t seen it yet?”

    JS: “I haven’t.”

    ML: “But it looks like…”

    JS: “So I’m not gonna speak to details.”

    ML: “You’re wise, she’s wise.”

    Laslo laughs.

    Sen. Tammy Baldwin: “She is wise. She is wise…”

    Andrey Beregovskiy and Walken Whalen contributed to this report.

    Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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    1 min