Congressional Lawmakers Support Using Drones To Spot Illegal Marijuana Grows On Public Lands

The White House on Friday declined to convict a U.S. Olympic panel for suspending a famous sprinter for testing positive for marijuana. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of Congressmen spoke out against the punishment of the athlete.

Known as America’s Fastest Woman, Sha’Carri Richardson was scheduled to compete in the Tokyo Olympics this month before testing positive for THC in violation of U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) guidelines. The runner admitted using cannabis in Oregon, where adult marijuana is legal, after learning of her birth mother’s death in a press interview.

Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) joins us live for an exclusive interview to talk about the positive marijuana test that suspended her Olympic future. pic.twitter.com/iVBp3zhvja

– TODAY (@TODAYshow) July 2nd, 2021

When asked whether President Joe Biden endorses the month-long ineligibility or wishes it lifted to allow the athlete to participate, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “This was an independent decision by the US Anti-Doping Agency, and not a decision Decision”. that would be done by the US government. “

Psaki went on to say that Richardson is “an inspiring young woman who has been through a lot personally – and she is also one of the fastest women in the world.”

And this woman is going to miss an important Olympic event given the month-long suspension; However, the punishment is set to end by the time she would possibly compete in another race if she stays on the US team after the cannabis controversy.

“It’s also an important part of the story,” said Psaki, “so this is an independent decision by the US Anti-Doping Agency, but I also thought it was important to know who she is and her story.”

I am human

– Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) July 1, 2021

But while the press secretary seemed to sympathize with the runner and acknowledge her talent, she did not directly address the question of where President Joe Biden stands and gave a remarkable respectful response that placed full responsibility on the country’s sports association.

For advocates, the government’s refusal to defend the Sprinter is yet another disappointment, and yet another signal that it is unwilling to advocate reform even in special circumstances like the Richardson case.

Simultaneously with the decision not to explicitly criticize the sport-related sanctions, the government has come under fire this year for dismissing or otherwise punishing employees who were honest about their previous cannabis use as part of the background check.

Psaki went on to say that no one in the White House was fired for “using marijuana years ago”, nor was anyone fired for “occasional or infrequent use in the past 12 months.” However, she consistently refused to speak to the extent that employees were suspended or placed on a remote work program because they were honest about their history with marijuana on a federal form that is part of the background check process.

It is not just activists who condemn Richardson’s suspension. Several congressmen and federal candidates have criticized the agency for the move.

For example, MPs Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) wrote a letter to the USADA and the World Anti-Doping Agency expressing their “concern” about the punishment.

“The ban on marijuana is a significant and unnecessary burden on the civil liberties of athletes,” wrote the two lawmakers, who are chairmen and vice-chairmen of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

“The different treatment of recreational alcohol and marijuana reflects outdated stereotypes about cannabis products and a profound misunderstanding of the relative risks of both substances,” they said, noting that major sports leagues like the NFL, MLB, and NBA are taking steps to scale up cannabis punishments for players to withdraw or eliminate.

BREAKING: Sbcmte Chairs @RepRaskin & @RepAOC sent an urgent letter to @usantidoping & @wada_ama expressing dismay at @itskerrii’s suspension from the @usatf team for marijuana use and asking them to revise their guidelines rethink.https: //t.co / 25c0e2WMZw

– Oversight Committee (@OversightDems) July 3, 2021

“We’re also concerned that the ongoing marijuana ban while your organizations allow recreational alcohol and other drugs to reflect anti-drug laws and guidelines that have historically targeted black and brown communities while drug use is in.” white communities was largely tolerated, “they said.

We worked with @RepRaskin and the Civil Rights and Liberties Subcommittee to formally request @USAntiDoping to end Sha’Carri Richardson’s suspension.

Your decision has no scientific basis. It is rooted entirely in systemic racism that has long been fueled by anti-marijuana laws. pic.twitter.com/F28c5ScI1D

– MP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) July 3, 2021

Major league baseball, hockey, and football have all abolished penalties for using marijuana.

It’s time for the IOC and @usantidoping to do the same. #LetShaCarriRun

– MP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) July 3, 2021

A number of other lawmakers criticized the exposure in social media posts:

Another example of the impact of our country’s outdated, harmful cannabis laws. And another reason I’m fighting so hard to end the federal cannabis ban to correct these injustices. https://t.co/L3tbE5Qjbq

– Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) July 2, 2021

Sha’Carri is an incredible athlete with a bright future. That their dreams will be destroyed over a substance that should be legal across the country is devastating and wrong. Your sincere apology shows your strength even in the face of adversity.https: //t.co/PeohD20Emo

– Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) July 2, 2021

The press, who loves to bathe in the intersectionality of race-gender sports, should ask @JoeBiden if he thinks Sha’carri Richardson is the agency of America for the use of drug legislation in most states that are does not affect performance should be prohibited.

Definitely not me. # Unwoke46

– Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) July 2, 2021

If @POTUS and @VP didn’t support the racist drug war, they might have the back of this American champion. https://t.co/dq5WHojaE

– Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) July 2, 2021

The criminalization and prohibition of cannabis is an instrument of racist and colonial politics.

The IOC should reconsider its suspension of Ms. Richardson and all athletes fined for cannabis use. This decision about the IOC’s rejection of swimming caps for natural hair is deeply troubling. https://t.co/Ao1Yu8Ax9G

– Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 2, 2021

Time to get real America. It is high time to put an end to the failed war on drugs. What happens to Sha’Carri Richardson is just another example of his collateral damage, large and small.

The government needs to catch up with America and real life. #Olympiad https://t.co/QUzP6mZvwp

– Graf Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) July 2, 2021

Marijuana is not a performance-enhancing drug. Outdated and discriminatory marijuana laws are seeping through with life-changing consequences. It’s embarrassing. @RepBlumenauer and I urge USADA to reconsider. Sha’Carri deserves to compete on the world stage. #LetRichardsonRun https://t.co/a7pJbqfUFt

– Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) July 2, 2021

The following must happen:
1. Run Sha’Carri.
2. Legalize cannabis.
3. Decriminalize all drugs. https://t.co/4y8TY99fWy

– Cori Bush (@CoriBush) July 2, 2021

I’m so tired of women of color being forced to apologize, especially when they are. https://t.co/c4iWP4A8hZ

– Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) July 2, 2021

Sha’Carri doesn’t have to apologize.

We need to get rid of archaic rules for a substance that is perfectly legal in 19 states plus DC.

And we need to legalize it at the federal level. https://t.co/Ws0n8ykKIP

– Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) July 2, 2021

That makes no sense. Wouldn’t affect her performance so why disqualify her. Might have been legal where she took it. Let the lady run! https://t.co/YgBZ5JPgiG

– Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) July 3, 2021

Legalize marijuana. https://t.co/Hw6YLj02Fs

– Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) July 2, 2021

Marijuana is not a performance-enhancing drug. This outdated thinking needs to change. Run Sha’Carri. https://t.co/C4GAc6pWHa

– Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) July 2, 2021

The Olympics must change policies to keep up with the times – and Congress must do the same. #LetShaCarriRun #LegalizeIt https://t.co/FHqut8RtG5

– Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) July 2, 2021

Marijuana has never made anyone faster in the history of sport.

If you don’t believe me, ask @Setrogen

And yes, that’s absurd. Run #ShaCarri. #ShacarriRichardson https://t.co/wKdXWUSXX8

– Jimmy Gomez (@JimmyGomezCA) July 3, 2021

It is time to legalize, regulate, tax, and stop treating people who use it as criminals. Current law ruins lives without saving them. https://t.co/PJBcaQrA4c

– Rep. Dean Phillips (@RepDeanPhillips) July 2, 2021

Sha’Carri should not be disqualified. Cannabis should be legal.

– Charles Booker (@ Booker4KY) July 2, 2021

Nobody should be in jail for smoking marijuana.

Nobody should lose their job (or have a criminal record) for smoking.

* AND * Nobody should ever be excluded from athletic competitions.

End the stigma • Legalize • Restore damaged communities

– Nina Turner (@ninaturner) July 2, 2021

Meanwhile, a powerful Congressional committee recently released a report earlier this week urging federal agencies to reconsider policies leading to the sacking of employees who legally use marijuana in accordance with state law.

Senators are calling on the Biden government to help naval veterans deported for marijuana

Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan.

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