{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://cohen.house.gov/press-release/cohen-named-%E2%80%9Cchampion-reform%E2%80%9D-commitment-fixing-nation%E2%80%99s-draconian-marijuana-laws", "Cohen Named Champion of Reform for Commitment to Fixing Nations Draconian Marijuana Laws", "2014-11-05", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "[MEMPHIS, TN] \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, has been named a 2014 Champion of Reform by the Drug Policy Alliance for his \u201cmajor contributions\u201d to bringing our federal drug policies into the 21st century and reducing the racial disparities they cause in our criminal justice system. Congressman Cohen is one of only 10 Members of Congress to receive this distinction from the Drug Policy Alliance.\n\u201cI have spent my career trying to bring sanity to our nation\u2019s outdated and draconian criminal drug laws that unfairly hurt minority communities, said Congressman Cohen. \u201cIt is an honor to be recognized as a Champion of Reform in Congress, and I will continue to support policies that are based on sound science and reduce racial disparities.\u201d\nAmong Congressman Cohen\u2019s contributions to drug policy reform are two bills that he has introduced in Congress. The first, his Unmuzzle the Drug Czar Act, would remove restrictions that require the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, commonly known as the \u201cDrug Czar,\u201d to oppose changing the legal status of marijuana and prevent it from even studying whether there could be any medical benefits. More information about Congressman Cohen\u2019s Unmuzzle the Drug Czar Act is available here.\nCongressman Cohen\u2019s second bill would create a National Commission on Federal Marijuana Policy. The Commission would undertake a comprehensive review of the federal government\u2019s current policies toward marijuana, particularly in light of the growing number of states where marijuana is already legal for medicinal or personal use. More information about this legislation can be found here.\nDrug Policy Action is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit, 501(c)(4) organization that aims to promote drug laws and policies grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights.", 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": ["http://cohen.house.gov/press-release/cohen-named-%E2%80%9Cchampion-reform%E2%80%9D-commitment-fixing-nation%E2%80%99s-draconian-marijuana-laws"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.007941085845232, "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"}