Two
senators from the opposite ends of the political spectrum are aiming to
find some common ground in 2014 over the issue of the so-called drug
war.
Conservative
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and liberal Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., connected
last week via Twitter, after Paul began airing his grievances to
commemorate Festivus, the fake holiday popularized by the sitcom
"Seinfeld” in the late 1990s.
After
Paul wrote that Booker “doesn’t RT me enough,” the Democrat referenced
another Festivus tradition, responding, “U, me & "feats of strength:" Senate floor, name the time.”
That
prompted Paul to respond more seriously, “how about mandatory minimum
sentencing reform instead?” Booker then suggested they “throw in
reforming Fed Hemp & Marijuana laws.”
Paul
has co-authored legislation to legalize industrial hemp, a variety of
Cannabis with very low levels of THC, the psychoactive agent in the
plant. The coming year, meanwhile, is set to be a significant one for
marijuana policy -- on Jan. 1,
the first state-licensed marijuana shops will open for business in
Colorado. Voters in both Colorado and Washington state in 2012 approved
ballot measures legalizing recreational marijuana use, even though the
drug remains illegal at the federal level. The federal government has
said that, for now, it will take a hands-off approach to the issue,
though if state laws keep evolving, the imbalance between state and federal marijuana laws may reach a tipping point.
Booker capped off the exchange on Twitter by
remarking, “Here is to a 2014 where we take on the failed war on drugs.”
Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
