Podcast
Ask a Pol drugs
Hosted by Ask a Pol by Matt Laslo · EN
Asking your lawmakers your drug (medicine and criminal justice, etc.) questions at your US Capitol.
www.askapoldrugs.com
www.askapoldrugs.com
96episodes
Episodes
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I haven't filed a story from the Capitol since Jan 6 - forget rioters, I'm scared of TV Networks
Jun 1300:04:00Tap to summarizeThe nation’s TV Networks are blocking me from training a summer intern for the first time since 2012. And they still won’t credential my 7 veteran team members.I’ve now sent a personal letter to the Speaker, Minority Leader, Senate Leaders and each member of the Senate Rules Committee, begging them to intervene.My Bureau, The LCB, has provided clips, W-9s, proof of payments, etc. — yet nothing has been good enough to appease Senate Radio-TV Gallery Director Mike Mastrian and Executive Committee Chair Nate Reed of Scripps (a streaming service).Please, someone, help!- LasloPS - below find a link to some of what’s cited in the video. Ask a Pol’s on Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy the team a beer!ICYMI — something’s off at RTCA This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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AOC: Marijuana rescheduling reduces one harm — but “doesn’t quite make all of the wrongs right”
May 700:00:53Tap to summarizeWho?Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)LISTEN: Laslo & AOC This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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"He was poorly advised," Sen. Ted Budd says of President Trump rescheduling marijuana
Feb 2200:03:00Tap to summarizeWho?Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) — Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee; Joint Economic CommitteeAsk a Pol asks:You and Sen. James Lankford have a new bill to block DOJ from implementing Trump’s marijuana rescheduling — why is that important to you?Key Budd:“The president was given bad information. I think the president thought he was making a good decision. And I support the president on the vast majority of his policies, but I think he was poorly advised,” Sen. Budd exclusively tells Ask a Pol.Caught our ear:“I don’t think anything pro marijuana will age well. I mean, it’s harming our children. So let’s leave it scheduled as is,” Budd tells us. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris didn't think Trump would reschedule cannabis — until the president did
Dec 1900:02:04Tap to summarizeAsk a Pol ~ interactive political journalism ~ what should we ask Congress next?Who?Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) — Chair, House Freedom CaucusDate:Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025 — eve of President Donald Trump dropping cannabis — or “marijuana,” as Harris calls it — from Schedule I to Schedule III.Ask a Pol asks:What do you make of reports Trump plans to reschedule marijuana?Key Harris:“I suspect some more reasonable minds may be prevailing over at the White House,” Rep. Andy Harris tells Ask a Pol Drugs, when asked about Trump’s reported plan to reschedule cannabis.About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. Find us on social media:SubstackXSpotifyAppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites! Ask a Pol politics.Ask a Pol crypto. Ask a Pol drugs. Ask a Pol ai. Ask a Pol uaps. Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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AOC dares Speaker Johnson to block Trump on cannabis rescheduling: "I don’t think that’s going to pass, though”
Dec 1400:01:53Tap to summarizeWho?Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)Ask a Pol asks:We’re hearing President Trump’s going to change cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III via executive order. Wondering why Biden didn’t move on this?Key AOC:“I’ve always been saying this from the beginning. It’s such a no-brainer, and I’ve honestly felt that it’s been a race,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez exclusively tells Ask a Pol Drugs. “Of course I’m supportive of that move.”Subscribe for FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE already, fam!Caught our ear:“Speaker Johnson doesn’t have the pen on executive orders,” Ocasio-Cortez tells us.“So if he wants to try to pass some legislation and whip his entire Republican caucus into doing that, I mean, that’s well within his power and his right. I don’t think that’s going to pass, though.”TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (12-12-2025)SCENE: Just off the floor of the US House of Representatives, a gaggle of congressional reporters huddle around AOC, firing away with questions ranging from skyrocketing health care premiums to the 2026 midterm elections.Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo slides in the back of his colleagues, waits and listens for a bit until the other journalists move on. Once AOC answers their last questions and her staffers start to move her towards an elevator, Laslo — who was (half)jokingly referred to as The Squad Correspondent at VICE News — slides in with an irresistible question for the Bronx progressive…Matt Laslo: “We’re hearing President [Donald] Trump is going to change cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III via executive order. How disappointed are you [fmr. President Joe] Biden didn’t move on this?”Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “I mean, I’ve always been saying this from the beginning. I’ve been saying that this is — it’s such a no-brainer. And I’ve honestly felt that it’s been a race to whoever — I mean, it just feels, it’s inevitable. So, of course I’m supportive of that move.”ICYMI — Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo’s wire service, The LCB, first sold this interview to sister cannabis outlet, Marijuana MomentLaslo: “And we’re also hearing Speaker [Mike] Johnson is opposing it.”AOC: “Yeah?”Laslo: “So…”AOC: “Well, Speaker Johnson doesn’t have the pen on executive orders.”Laslo: “Yeah?”AOC: “So if he wants to try to pass some legislation and whip his entire Republican caucus into doing that, I mean, that’s well within his power and his right. I don’t think that’s going to pass, though.”Laslo: “Yeah? Right? Thank you, ma’am.”AI Disclosure:Ask a Pol‘s playing around with as many new AI tools as we can, so this small, unfunded startup can compete in today’s new media landscape.Tips welcome.100% anonymity This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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"Desperate mistruths" — Andy Harris dismisses fears THC hemp ban will kill industry
Dec 500:02:22Tap to summarizeVisit Ask a Pol ~ interactive political journalism ~ what should we ask Congress next? Let us know!Who?Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) — Chair, Freedom CaucusBlack Friday Blowout: Limited-time SALE — subscribe today!Help a struggling startup out. Please, fam.Ask a Pol asks:Do you think the train’s already left the station on hemp?Key Harris:“Federal law supersedes state laws on scheduled substances,” Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “We are going to limit an otherwise unregulated industry that sells intoxicants to children.”About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. Find us on social media:SubstackXSpotifyAppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites! Ask a Pol politics.Ask a Pol crypto. Ask a Pol drugs. Ask a Pol ai. Ask a Pol uaps. Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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Cannabis Caucus Co-chair seeking state "exemptions" from new hemp THC ban
Nov 2300:02:54Tap to summarizeVisit Ask a Pol ~ asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol ~What should we ask Congress next? Let us know!In our latest episode, Ask a Pol asks:Now that the federal government’s re-opened and Speaker Mike Johnson gaveled the US House of Representatives back into session, has there been any chatter of the broadly bipartisan SAFER Banking Act? Key Omar:“No. Right now, we’re trying to see if we can get exemptions for states that have already rolled out their hemp policies,” Rep. Ilhan Omar tells Ask a Pol Drugs. “So much of our economy, it’s already absorbing the hemp industry, and it’s just going to be a tragedy for the industries that already exist in states like Minnesota.”About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. Find us on social media:SubstackXSpotifyAppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites! Ask a Pol politics.Ask a Pol crypto. Ask a Pol drugs. Ask a Pol ai. Ask a Pol uaps. Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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"Would be game-changer for the party" if Trump endorses rescheduling marijuana, Sen. Cramer says
Nov 900:03:10Tap to summarizeVisit Ask a Pol ~ interactive political journalism ~ what should we ask Congress next? Let us know!Who?Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) — Member, Senate Banking CommitteeAsk a Pol asks:If Trump came out strongly in support of medical marijuana, would that be a game-changer for the Republican Party?Key Cramer:“Certainly,” Sen. Kevin Cramer exclusively told Ask a Pol. “It would certainly be the game-changer for the party. And I do think it would be easier to do some of these other thingspsst: Find Ask a Pol on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram!Caught our ear:It’s felt like cannabis has been a four-letter word all Congress.“It has been a four-letter word,” Cramer told us. “It changes the conversation for sure.”About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. Find us on social media:SubstackXSpotifyAppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites! Ask a Pol politics.Ask a Pol crypto. Ask a Pol drugs. Ask a Pol ai. Ask a Pol uaps. Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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"They prefer people to use a much higher dose of THC," Sen. Paul rips AGs opposing hemp
Nov 100:01:49Tap to summarizeVisit Ask a Pol ~ asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol ~Ask a Pol asks:How do you combat the 39 state attorneys general pushing back against hemp, arguing it’s really dangerous?Key Paul: “Some of them came back from states that have completely legalized marijuana and they’re going to ban hemp?” Sen. Rand Paul told Ask a Pol. “I mean, it’s just ridiculous.”About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. Find us on social media:SubstackXSpotifyAppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites!Ask a Pol politics.Ask a Pol crypto. Ask a Pol drugs. Ask a Pol ai. Ask a Pol uaps. Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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Would rescheduling marijuana sway GOP Senators? “I’m not sure,” SAFE Banking co-author says
Nov 100:02:32Tap to summarizeVisit Ask a Pol ~ interactive political journalism ~ what should we ask Congress next? Let us know!Who?Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT)Ask a Pol asks:Do you think whichever way that goes could be the dominoes when it comes to SAFER Banking Act and stuff like that? Like if he green lights cannabis would that wake up a lot of people in your party?Key Daines:“I’m not sure, actually,” Sen. Steve Daines exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “Many Senators hold strong opinions, and they keep those opinions separate from SAFE Banking, you know, like me. I’m not a fan of recreational marijuana.”About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. Find us on social media:SubstackXSpotifyAppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites!Ask a Pol politics.Ask a Pol crypto. Ask a Pol drugs. Ask a Pol ai. Ask a Pol uaps. Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe
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