After all, President Barack Obama smoked pot. " I inhaled," he admitted publicly. " I mean, that was the point."
Unlike the president, Polis said he never used marijuana. He opposes the War on Drugs because " it ' s not an effective way of dealing with this public health issue. As it stands, it ' s a waste of taxpayer money."
Another perspective is that marijuana prohibition does add to the economy- prisons and asset forfeiture actually do line some pockets. Polis acknowledges that certain interests do benefit from the War on Drugs, and it irks him. But instead of focusing on them, he is acting on what ' s in the best interests of the American people.
Among representatives and senators in Congress, Polis is perhaps the leading advocate for marijuana reform, although Tennessee ' s Steve Cohen is also a passionate critic of marijuana prohibition and asset forfeiture.
Polls consistently show that most Americans share a low opinion of public servants in Washington, D. C. Reports of partisan sniping and wars of words between Democrats and Republicans frequently color the news. So surely Polis endures the occasional finger-jabbing lecture from conservatives opposed to his legislation. Or not.
" I don’ t feel that my position on this issue has impacted my relationship with my colleagues," he explained. " We are accustomed to both agreeing and disagreeing in a civil way." While Polis gets along just fine with his fellows in Congress, it ' s far from certain whether the Obama administration ' s Department of Justice will get along with legalization in Colorado and Washington state.
Will attorney general Eric Holder harass marijuana businesses in those two states?
" The Justice Department has said in the past through the Ogden memo that enforcing marijuana laws in states that have chosen to legalize is its lowest enforcement priority," Polis said. " If Congress doesn’ t pass the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act then we want the Department to again make clear that they’ re not going to raid state-legal marijuana business in Colorado. The Attorney General actually already has the authority to remove marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, while I don’ t expect the Department to take such a step. And building on the President’ s recent verbal assurances, I’ m hopeful that we’ ll get written guidance from the Justice Department so that Colorado’ s laws are respected and business know that as long as they comply with Colorado law that they won’ t be raided."
It ' s not only the Justice Department that complicates Colorado ' s cannabis reform. There is also the Internal Revenue Service. Medical cannabis businesses currently operate under IRS rules which do not allow standard business deductions.
Banks and credit unions, including credit card companies, will not work with marijuana businesses, fearful of federal repercussions. Polis introduced a law in 2011 to allow banks to provide business accounts to medical marijuana businesses. The bill never reached the floor of the House for a vote.
Presumably, those banking and tax restrictions will extend to the retail industry in Colorado after Jan. 1, 2014. Asked what he intends to do about it; Polis said he ' s already been on the task.
" The goal should be that every cannabis business is treated like any other legal business, so that includes being able to expense business equipment and access banking services," he said. " I’ m a sponsor of the Small Business Tax Equity Act, which would allow for expensing, and I authored the Small Business Banking Improvement Act, which would ensure that cannabis businesses can get basic banking services. These efforts will create jobs and generate taxes while dealing a huge blow to criminal enterprises at the same time."
To wrap up the interview, Polis was asked what he would want Colorado citizens and the rest of the American public to know about him.
" My first priority as your congressman is to be accessible, so no matter if we agree or disagree, know that I’ m always here to listen and to help. I hope to do what is right and move the country and the world in a better direction. Peace, love, prosperity, and joy to all!"
If his answer sounds a bit idealistic, so is Jared Polis. That ' s why this member of Congress is so important to the cannabis world- especially for Colorado.
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