Who?
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) — Appropriations Committee
LISTEN: Laslo & Harris
Ask a Pol asked:
Have you seen this new report from ProPublica out of Oklahoma on the Chinese mafia turning the state’s legal medical marijuana marketplace into a deadly, illegal black market cannabis exporter?
Key Harris:
“Ohh, yeah-yeah,” Harris exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “I do understand that the Chinese are involved in the illegal marijuana market. No surprise.”
Follow-up:
But is the problem because it's illegal or is the problem because it's not regulated?
Harris claims:
“It'll only get worse if you make it legal,” Harris said.
Below 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
Matt Laslo: “Have you seen this new study out of Oklahoma on marijuana?”
Andy Harris: “Out of where?”
ML: “Oklahoma. It's terrifying. I guess, like, the Chinese mafia has bought up a bunch of their stuff…”
AH: “Ohh, yeah-yeah.”
ML: “…and then it becomes black market to New York and elsewhere.”
AH: “I do understand that the Chinese are involved in the illegal marijuana market. No surprise.”
ML: “But is the problem because it's illegal or is the problem because it's not regulated?”
AH: “It'll only get worse if you make it legal.”
ML: “Yep? ‘Preciate ya.”
Matt Laslo’s covered drug policy for Playboy, Rolling Stone, VICE News Tonight, Daily Beast, VICE News, etc. He’s also a new media prof. & the founder of Ask a Pol — a new, people-powered press corps.
Ask a Pol — asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. Follow us: @AskaPol_drugs
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Andy Harris says if Chinese mafia infiltrated Okla. marijuana: “It'll only get worse if you make it legal”