Who?
Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) — Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee
LISTEN: Laslo & Budd
Ask a Pol asks:
What do you think of the DEA moving on marijuana?
Key Budd:
“THC is more concentrated — more than ever — and we’re trying to rule it as a less dangerous drug? I just think that’s completely out of step,” Sen. Ted Budd tells Ask a Pol. “And I think the country would be better served with less marijuana, not even more. So I don’t wanna condone what’s already been done.”
Caught our ear:
“When you look at male participation in the workforce, a lot of that decline is due to marijuana usage and the normalization of it,” Budd tells us. “So that's a huge concern for the broader economy of the US.”
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Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Ted Budd
SCENE: In the basement of the Capitol, Sen. Ted Budd waves for Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo to join him on his elevator up to the Senate chamber.
Matt Laslo: “What’d you think of the DEA moving on marijuana?”
Ted Budd: “Look, you’ve got...”
The senator moves out of the way of others in the busy Capitol basement.
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ML: “Yeah?”
TB: “Who you working with this time?”
ML: “I have my own bureau.”
TB: “Yeah. Are you Substack or what?”
ML: “I have a Substack, but then I have my own bureau, which is like a wire service, The LCB — Laslo Congressional Bureau.”
TB: “Yeah. Yeah. So look, I mean, you got, THC is more concentrated — more than ever — and we’re trying to rule it as a less dangerous drug? I just think that’s completely out of step.”
ML: “Yeah? Interesting.”
TB: “And I think the country would be better served with less marijuana, not even more. So, I don’t wanna condone what’s already been done.”
ML: “Well, cause it seems like the studies they’re doing in Mississippi — University of Mississippi — aren’t even on the marijuana that we’re consuming.”
Laslo laughs.
TB: “They not even what?”
ML: “They’re not even on the marijuana that’s being consumed in the public. It’s on a lesser grade.”
TB: “Yeah, I mean, it’s the — I just think it’s…”
ML: “Lack of science.”
ICYMI — Ask a Pol’s exclusive w/ Sen. Ron Wyden
TB: “Yeah. When you look at male participation in the workforce, a lot of that decline is due to marijuana usage and the normalization of it.”
ML: “Interesting.”
TB: “So that's a huge concern for the broader economy of the US.”
ML: “Yeah?”
TB: “Thanks.”
Budd turns to go vote on the US Senate floor.
ML: “Preciate ya. Have a good one.”
Matt Laslo’s a veteran congressional correspondent, new media prof. & founder of Ask a Pol — a new, people-powered press corps.
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Sen. Ted Budd: "male participation in the workforce, a lot of that decline is due to marijuana usage and the normalization of it”