The GOP’s nominee to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-California) as Speaker of the House—one of the most powerful positions in the U.S. government—has opposed nearly every cannabis bill he’s encountered during the past 15 years in office.
Scalise dropped out of the House speaker race Thursday evening.
In a closed-door meeting to replace McCarthy as speaker Wednesday, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) was selected as the clear nominee. Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the next contender, lost the nomination in a vote 113 to 99. On Thursday however, Scalise appeared to be short on votes to become the next Speaker.
McCarthy was successfully dethroned as Speaker of the House Oct. 2, in a rare ouster led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida). The Associated Press reports that the speaker ouster was a “first in U.S. history” and done with the efforts of a hard-right faction that splintered.
Given that Congress faces a Nov. 17 spending bill deadline in order to prevent a government shutdown, the sense of urgency to select a new speaker is rising.
“First, I want to thank my House Republican colleagues for just designating me as the speaker, Scalise said upon hearing the news of his nomination. “Obviously, we still have work to do. We’re going to have to go upstairs on the House floor and resolve this and then get the House opened again. We have a lot of work to do, not just in the House for the people of this country, but we see how dangerous of a world it is and how things can change so quickly.”
The future of cannabis legislation at the federal level hinges on cooperation from House leadership.
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Author: Benjamin M. Adams / High Times
