Sen. Carper on cannabis: "I don't know that it's imperative that we have a federal policy"

Ceiling just off the floor of the US Senate. Photo: Matt Laslo

Who?

Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE)

LISTEN: Laslo & Carper

Ask a Pol asks:

What are your thoughts on the SAFER Banking Act?

Key Carper: 

“I don't know that it's imperative that we have a federal policy. But we have 50 states, they all have their own banking laws,” Sen. Tom Carper exclusively told Ask a Pol. “And in Delaware, they've actually reacted to meet what they think is a legitimate banking need.”

Clemency for past marijuana convictions?

“That's beyond my pay grade right now,” Carper said. “I think we can learn from states, including Delaware, about what works and what doesn't, and we should do that.”

Caught our ear:

Thoughts on the DEA rescheduling marijuana?

“No,” Carper told us. “None at all.”

Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), slightly edited for clarity.

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TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Tom Carper

SCENE: Sen. Tom Carper just entered the US Capitol when he runs into Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo who proceeds to hop an elevator with him up to the Senate floor.

Tom Carper: “How you?”

Matt Laslo: “Livin’ the dream.”

TC: “Oh, good. Go ahead.”

ML: “Curious, do you have any thoughts on the DEA moving to reschedule marijuana?”

TC: “No.”

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ML: “No?”

TC: “None at all.”

ML: “Where are you on the SAFER Banking Act?”

TC: “The SAFER Banking — what?”

ML: “It normalized — or it allows states with legal marijuana industries to use the banking system.”

TC: “In Delaware, we actually, I think, provided with, I think, appropriate safeguards around that, the use of banking system by those who are in the marijuana business. I don't know that it's imperative that we have a federal policy. But we have 50 states, they all have their own banking laws. In Delaware, they've actually reacted to meet what they think is a legitimate banking need.”

ML: “Yeah? Where would you be on clemency for taking away past marijuana convictions?”

TC: “That's beyond my pay grade right now.”

ML: “Fair.”

TC: “Right now, I'm, I think — I’m a recovering governor — and I think that one of the things that, the states can be a laboratory of democracy, including with respect to policies involving marijuana industries' access to the banking system. I think we can learn from states, including Delaware, about what works and what doesn't. And we should do that.”

ML: “I take it this doesn't come up in your conversations with Mr. Biden?”

Both laugh.

ML: “Have a good one, sir.”

Carper heads to Senate chamber when Laslo — who at one point owned more than 200 old school ties — runs into a fellow congressional reporter…

ML: “At least you wore a tie today.”

Andrey Beregovskiy and Walken Whalen contributed to this report.

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