Zinger Key Points
- Rep. Dean Phillips says Biden might better comprehend the double standard, which criminalizes cannabis and has no problem with alcohol.
- The congressman says it's likely Biden “has never even smelled weed, let alone smoked it.”
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U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who is challenging President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination is also challenging the president to smoke a joint.
Phillips said Biden might better comprehend the "awfully hypocritical" double standard in the U.S., which has no problem with alcohol consumption but criminalizes cannabis use.
At a New Hampshire town hall where he took questions from New England College students, Phillips praised Ohio's recently approved initiative to legalize adult-use cannabis, contrasting it with Biden's staunch resistance. The congressman said it's likely Biden “has never even smelled weed, let alone smoked it.”
“The fact of the matter is, I think he should,” Phillips said, “because he would find it awfully hypocritical that you can drink a half gallon of Jack Daniels at night and report to work in his White House — but if you ate a [cannabis] gummy and it was discovered, you’d be fired and maybe even imprisoned because you’re breaking federal law,” reported Marijuana Moment.
Phillips was referring to the White House policy under Biden of tolerating alcohol consumption while penalizing cannabis use, which in 2021 led to several staff members losing their jobs.
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Phillips, who recently declared his presidential run, consistently supported drug policy reform, advocating for federal marijuana legalization, relief for people criminalized over cannabis possession and research into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.
Following last week's Ohio elections, Phillips lashed out at Biden, pointing to his lagging support among Democrats.
Photo: U.S. Government; Stock image
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