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Lawmakers Ask Obama to Scale Back Pot Punishments

By Emma Dumain and JM Rieger

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House Democrats are seeking to amp up the pressure on President Barack Obama to use his now-infamous “phone and pen” to do more than just raise the minimum wage for federal workers: They want him to aide in the reclassification of marijuana. In a letter to Obama spearheaded by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., lawmakers wrote, “one would hope that … your Administration officials publicly reflect your views on this matter.” Blumenauer criticized the administration’s drug policies on the House floor Tuesday.

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