{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/the-push-for-legal-marijuana-spreads", "The Push for Legal Marijuana Spreads", "2015-11-06", "2015", "2015-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Push for Legal Marijuana Spreads\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By: The Editorial Boarrd \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, November 6, 2015\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tSupport for making marijuana legal is increasing around the world, and that is a good thing. Earlier this week, the Mexican Supreme Courtopened the doorto legalizing the drug by giving four plaintiffs the right to grow cannabis for personal use.\r\nIn Canada, the newly sworn in prime minister, Justin Trudeau,has saidhe intends to change the law so people can use the drug recreationally;medicinaluse is already legal in that country. And in the United States, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont recentlyintroduced a billthat would let states decide if they want to make the drug legal without worrying about violating federal law.\r\nLaws banning the growing, distribution and possession of marijuana have caused tremendous damage to society, with billions spent on imprisoning people for violating pointlessly harsh laws. Yet research shows that marijuana is farless harmfulthan alcohol and tobacco, and can be used to treat medical conditions like chronic pain.\r\nThe Mexican Supreme Courts ruling, which applies only to the four plaintiffs seeking a right to grow marijuana, does not strike down the countrys marijuana laws. But it will open the way to more legal challenges and put pressure on President Enrique Pea Nieto and the Mexican Congress to change the law, which has helped to fuel drug-related crime in the country.\r\nContinue reading here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/the-push-for-legal-marijuana-spreads"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2732758186757565, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}