Who?
Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE)
LISTEN: Laslo & Ricketts
Ask a Pol asks:
Any thoughts on the DEA rescheduling marijuana?
Key Ricketts:
“It's an absolutely horrible idea that it's gonna have a huge impact on our children. Marijuana is a dangerous drug,” Sen. Ricketts exclusively tells Ask a Pol.
Caught our ear
“I'm against the SAFER Banking,” Ricketts says.
Clemency?
“That's a state issue, right? That needs to be done by pardons boards or governors at state levels,” Ricketts tells us.
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE), slightly edited for clarity.
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TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Pete Ricketts
SCENE: Sen. Ricketts and an aide are walking through the basement of the US Capitol on their way to the Senate floor.
Matt Laslo: “How are you, sir?”
Pete Ricketts: “I'm doing pretty good, how are you?”
ML: “Livin’ the dream. Curious, do you have any thoughts on the administration, you know, the DEA moving to reschedule marijuana?”
PR: “It's an absolutely horrible idea that it's gonna have a huge impact on our children. Marijuana is a dangerous drug. There's all sorts of data that shows the impacts it has on mental health, on psychosis and to reduce the level that we regulate it at. It's gonna be a huge mistake that's gonna lead to all sorts of health issues down the road.”
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ML: “Would you oppose — or where are you on the SAFER Banking Act that allows…?”
PR: “I'm against the SAFER Banking.”
ML: “Yeah? And then, clemency for past marijuana convictions?”
PR: “That's a state issue, right? That needs to be done by pardons boards or governors at state levels.”
ML: “Preciate you. Thank you.”
Aide: “What's your name again?”
ML: “It’s Matt Laslo.”
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. Pete Ricketts: DEA rescheduling marijuana "an absolutely horrible idea"