Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Democrats leaving marijuana legalization out of the party’s platform as “embarrassing.”
The New York Democrat said this week that the Democratic Party is behind the times when it comes to legalizing the drug after the Democratic National Committee delegates voted 105-60 on Monday against its inclusion in the platform.
“It’s embarrassing. It’s embarrassing that this is not on the Democratic platform,” Ocasio-Cortez told the News Station, a cannabis industry news website. “The Democratic platform on this issue is more conservative than it was in 2016.”
The DNC’s platform does not advocate for legalization but rather decriminalization of the substance, which is already legal for medical use in 33 states and for recreational use in 11 states. Legalization is also supported by some two-thirds of people in the United States.
“In this issue, it’s not even about being futuristic or next generation,” she continued. “This is an idea whose time has come.”
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who has been outspoken on marijuana legalization, also commented on the DNC vote.
“I’m trying to get my party to move forward. I don’t know why the Democrats are moving backwards,” Gaetz said.
