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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.
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Is Mitch McConnell why the SAFER Banking Act dies in Congress annually?
Dec 27, 202400:01:09Tap to summarizeWho?Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — Senate Minority LeaderLISTEN: Laslo & McConnellAsk a Pol asks:Do you oppose SAFER Banking Act?McConnell:Silence.Play the Tape: “Unrelated nonsense, like easier financing for illegal drugs, was kept out,” McConnell quietly exclaimed from the Senate floor in 2022 when he blocked the then-SAFE Banking Act from being tacked onto the National Defense Authorization Act — or NDAA. ICYMI — McConnell quietly killed SAFER again this yearBelow find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Mitch McConnellSCENE: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his large entourage of security and aides are walking through the US Capitol when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo tries to get McConnell to speak in the marble halls, which he rarely does, especially these days. Matt Laslo: “How you doing, sir?”McConnell makes eye contact with Laslo — who covered him for years for Kentucky Public Radio — but says nothing. ML: “You have any thoughts on the DEA moving to reschedule cannabis?”McConnell looks away from Laslo and says nothing. ML: “Are you opposed to SAFER Banking?”McConnell didn’t flinch or say a thing. ML: “Have a good one, sir.”Laslo smirked and then cracked up to himself… Andrey Beregovskiy contributed to this report. Content posted at AskaPolDrugs.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to 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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Sen. Whitehouse still not fully on board with SAFER Banking
Dec 24, 202400:02:23Tap to summarizeSCROLL DOWN to LISTEN for FREE! Who?Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)LISTEN: Laslo & WhitehouseAsk a Pol asks:What do you make of the DEA — Drug Enforcement Administration — moving to reschedule marijuana?Key Whitehouse: “I think that they're watching it be legalized in a lot of states which sort of runs counter to having it be seen by them as one of the most dangerous drugs,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse exclusively told Ask a Pol. ICYMI — Ask a Pol ask all 100 US senators about SAFER What’s going on with SAFER?“If I'm not mistaken, the reason we're kinda holding off on that is just cause Sen. Jack Reed is the senior member on Banking [Committee],” Whitehouse said. Caught our ear:“But I shouldn't have said that,” Whitehouse told us.Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseSCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo catches Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse after he exits a tram under the Capitol before the two proceed to ride an elevator up to the Senate floor. Matt Laslo: “How are you, sir?”Sheldon Whitehouse: “Hey, how are you?”ML: “Livin the dream. What do you make of the DEA moving to reschedule marijuana?”SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT**Student? Lost your gig? Hard times? Been there. Got you. No questions asked. Just ping us.SW: “Not much. I think that they're watching it be legalized in a lot of states which sort of runs counter to having it be seen by them as one of the most dangerous drugs.”They enter an elevator. ML: “Yeah? But I know a lot of people in your party want clemency to be part of the debate. And I'm wondering if you guys lose leverage if the administration legalizes it on their own.”SW: “Got me.”ML: “Have you looked at SAFER? Do you know SAFER Banking Act?”SW: “Yep.”ML: “Are you supportive?”SW: “I haven't — I don't think I'm a co-sponsor.”ML: “Yeah?”SW: “But I think it would be helpful to have that.”ML: “Yeah?” SW: “I think, if I'm not mistaken, the reason we're kinda holding off on that is just cause Sen. Jack Reed’s now a senior member on Banking [Committee], but I shouldn't have said that. I actually don't know.”Laslo laughs.SW: “I don't….”ML: “But you’re supportive of the concept, just…?” SW: “Yeah.”ML: “Yep. Preciate ya, sir.”Andrey Beregovskiy and Walken Whalen contributed to this report.Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to 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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Sen. Hoeven says Congress, not DEA, in charge of US marijuana policy
Dec 22, 202400:01:32Tap to summarizeWho?Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND)LISTEN: Laslo & HoevenAsk a Pol asks:Any thoughts on the DEA — Drug Enforcement Administration — rescheduling cannabis on their own?Key Hoeven: “I think it's up to Congress to make any changes there, and obviously we haven’t,” Sen. John Hoeven exclusively told Ask a Pol. ICYMI — Ask a Pol exclusvies with entire US Senate Caught our ear per SAFER Banking: “What's holding the SAFE Banking Act is that Sen. Schumer wants to legalize marijuana across the board,” Hoeven told us. “That’s why it’s being held up.” Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), slightly edited for clarity.ICYMI — Join Ask a Pol’s VIP subscriber-only chat!TRANSCRIPT: Sen. John HoevenSCENE: Sen. John Hoeven chats with Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo just off the Senate floor. Apologies, Laslo’s first question is off mic. Matt Laslo — off mic: What do you make of the Drug Enforcement Administration — or the DEA — moving to reschedule marijuana without Congress? John Hoeven: “No…”SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT**Student? Lost your gig? Hard times? Been there. Got you. No questions asked. Just ping us.JH: “…I don't think they should.”ML: “Yeah?” JH: “I mean, I think, it's up to Congress to make any changes there, and obviously we haven’t.”ML: “Yeah?” JH: “So no, I don't think they should be.”ML: “Have you looked at the SAFER Banking Act? For sales for cannabis.”JH: “What's holding the SAFE Banking Act is that Sen. Schumer wants to legalize marijuana across the board.”ML: “Yeah?” JH: “That's just not gonna happen. And that’s why it’s being held up.”ML: “And what do you think of Democrats’ calls for clemency for past marijuana convictions?”JH: “Again, I think if you commit a crime, then, y’know, you have to do the sentence.”ML: “Preciate you.”Andrey Beregovskiy and Walken Whalen contributed to this report.Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to 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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Gillibrand: McConnell killed her bipartisan stablecoin bill b/c he "does not want" SAFER Banking Act
Dec 22, 202400:02:38Tap to summarizeSTARTUP WOES: D*mmit. We thought we published this months ago. Apologies for delay.Who?Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) LISTEN: Laslo & GillibrandAsk a Pol asks:How’d your bipartisan Gillibrand-Lummis stablecoin bill get blocked from being included as part of the FAA re-authorization?Key Gillibrand: “We were hoping to have it be added but there was considerable back-and-forth concerning the SAFE Banking Act, and I think [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell does not want the SAFE Banking Act,” Gillibrand told Ask a Pol at the Capitol. “But I don’t know more than that. That’s just what I’ve heard.”Gillibrand would attach SAFER Banking Act to ANYTHING “I would love it. I support SAFER,” Gillibrand told us. “I also wanna have an amendment to SAFER someday to also increase access to the markets so they can get access to the stock exchanges. So I'm definitely open to all the bills that have been discussed to be part of the FAA [re-authorization].”ICYMI — SAFER “key leverage point” Caught our ear: Should clemency be a part of debate on SAFER?“I didn't know that was being debated. Is that the challenge with it?” Gillibrand told us. “But I think it's an important part of the bill.”Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), slightly edited for clarity.Ask a Pol drugs is FREE! And also a reader-supported publication. So subscribe for FREE already! And consider becoming a VIP support…if ya support us…TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Kirsten GillibrandSCENE: In the midst of intense FAA re-authorization negotiations in February, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand stops to talk to a small gaggle of reporters just outside the Senate floor.Kirsten Gillibrand: “I’m not.”Reporter #1: “Do you think it’s unlikely?”KG: “I don’t know.”Matt Laslo: “Because if you add that everyone else wants to add their things?”KG: “Well, we were hoping to have it be added but there was considerable back-and-forth concerning the SAFE Banking Act, and I think Sen. McConnell does not want the SAFE Banking Act.”ML: “Yeah?”Reporter #2: “Correct, correct.”KG: “But I don’t know more than that. That’s just what I’ve heard.”Reporter #2: “Was it your expectation that if it did get in there, it would be the McHenry-Waters [House stablecoin bill], unreleased McHenry-Waters?”KG: “I have no understanding either way. The reason why we put our draft out when we did was to encourage the conversation, to find if there was common ground and perhaps a conference-able bill between House and Senate.”Reporter #2: “What have you made of some of the reactions to the bill that you put out?”KG: “The whole point of putting it out was to get reactions, to get feedback, comments from stakeholders, from regulators, from other informed people and to make the bill better.”ML: “And you support SAFER [Banking Act]. Would you like to see the two combined?”KG: “I would love it. I support SAFER. I also wanna have an amendment to SAFER someday to also increase access to the markets so they can get access to the stock exchanges. So I'm definitely open to all the bills that have been discussed to be part of the FAA [re-authorization].”ML: “And what about clemency as a part of that? Because that's where SAFER seems to get larded up itself.”KG: “I didn't know that was being debated. Is that the challenge with it?”ML: “That's the leverage.”KG: “I hadn't heard that. But I think it's an important part of the bill.”ML: “Yeah? Preciate ya.”KG: “Thank you.”Reporter #2: “Appreciate it.”KG: “Thanks, guys.”*Student? Lost your gig? Hard times? Been there. Got you. No questions asked. Just ping us.Content posted at AskaPoldrugs.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to 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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Sen. Deb Fischer on SAFER Banking Act: “I haven't seen it"
Dec 20, 202400:01:41Tap to summarizeWho?Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE)LISTEN: Laslo & FischerAsk a Pol asks:Would you support the SAFER Banking Act or have you not looked at it yet?Key Fischer: “I haven't seen it,” Sen. Fischer exclusively told Ask a Pol.IVYMI — Catch Ask a Pol’s exclusives w/ all 100 Senators Caught our ear:Do you have any thoughts on the DEA — Drug Enforcement Administration — moving to reschedule marijuana? “I don't know,” Fischer told us.Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), slightly edited for clarity.ICYMI — Join Ask a Pol’s VIP subscriber-only chat!TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Deb FischerSCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo briefly catches Sen. Deb Fischer before she heads into a meeting with her fellow Republican senators. Matt Laslo: “How are you, ma’am?”Laslo says after running up the stairs to greet Fischer on the 2nd floor of the US Capitol. Deb Fischer: “How did you get up here so fast?” ML: “I’m good at my job.”Sen. Fischer laughs.SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT**Student? Lost your gig? Hard times? Been there. Got you. No questions asked. Just ping us.ML: “Do you have thoughts on the DEA moving to reschedule marijuana?”DF: “What?”ML: “Do you have thoughts on the DEA looking to re-examine the schedule of marijuana? Potentially dropping it from Schedule I?”DF: “I don't know.”ML: “Have you looked at the SAFER Banking Act?”DF: “You know, in Nebraska, there's a petition [to put medical marijuana on the ballot] moving on, so we'll wait. I'm not gonna comment on the action here.”ML: “But have you looked — would you support the SAFER Banking Act? Or have you not looked at it yet?”DF: “I haven't seen it.”ML: “Yeah. That's the one that would allow safe, legal…”DF: “Yeah.”ML: “Cool. Preciate ya, ma'am.”Andrey Beregovskiy and Walken Whalen contributed to this report.Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to 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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Sen. Capito: No position yet on SAFER Banking
Dec 19, 202400:01:09Tap to summarizeWho?Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)LISTEN: Laslo & CapitoAsk a Pol asks:Do you know your position on SAFER Banking?Key Capito: “No, I don’t. Is it coming up?” Sen. Capito exclusively told Ask a Pol. “I haven’t…”ICYMI — Find your senator’s position on cannabis Caught our ear:“I'll wait till it comes up,” Capito told us. Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Shelley Moore CapitoSCENE: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and an aide are walking through the basement of the US Capitol when they bump into Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo. Matt Laslo: “Do you know where you are on the SAFER Banking Act?” Shelley Moore Capito: “No, I don’t, is it coming up? I haven’t…”ICYMI — Join Ask a Pol’s VIP subscriber-only chat!ML: “No, well, it’s one of the few bipartisan ones that might come up on your itinerary.” SMC: “Yeah, no. I'll wait till it comes up.”ML: “Yep. Thank you, ma’am.”Andrey Beregovskiy and Walken Whalen contributed to this report.Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to 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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Sen. Welch: "War on drugs was way overbroad when it came to marijuana"
Dec 18, 202400:02:22Tap to summarizeWho?Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT)LISTEN: Laslo & WelchAsk a Pol asks:Do you have any thoughts on the DEA — Drug Enforcement Administration — moving to reschedule marijuana?Key Welch: “I'm in favor,” Sen. Peter Welch exclusively told Ask a Pol. “Everybody knows the War on Drugs was way overbroad when it came to marijuana, and it did a lot of harm, and hard to see what good it did. And the overscheduling of it was a grave mistake.”Support SAFER Banking?“Yes,” Welch told us. Caught our ear:“The overscheduling of it was a grave mistake. It just isn't the same as hardcore drugs,” Welch told us. “So this is long overdue.”Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Peter WelchSCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo catches up with Sen. Peter Welch as he walks across the grounds of the US Capitol. Matt Laslo: “Curious your thoughts on the DEA looking to reschedule marijuana?”Peter Welch: “I'm in favor.”SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT**Student? Lost your gig? Hard times? Been there. Got you. No questions asked. Just ping us.ML: “Yeah? Cause I mean — cause a lot of Democrats, like — are you with [Sens.] Booker and Schumer on the clemency part wanting, fighting for clemency for past convictions? Cause I'm curious if you all, if Dems lose leverage with the administration.”PW: “Yeah, I mean — look, everybody knows the ‘war on drugs’ was way overbroad when it came to marijuana, and it did a lot of harm and hard to see what good it did. And the overscheduling of it was a grave mistake. It just isn't the same as hardcore drugs. So this is long overdue.” ML: “Yeah?”PW: “And the prosecutions that were, in effect, treating marijuana as something much worse than it was, we should address that.”ML: “Yeah?”PW: “So, you know, I'm inclined to support that.”ML: “And I take it you're with your party on SAFER Banking?”PW: “Yes.”ML: “Yeah?”PW: “Yeah.” ML: “Yep.”PW: “Thanks.”ML: “Preciate ya, sir. Have a good one.”Andrey Beregovskiy and Walken Whalen contributed to this report.Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to 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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Sen. Ernst: "not in favor of legalized marijuana," reviewing SAFER Banking
Dec 17, 202400:01:36Tap to summarizeWho?Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) LISTEN: Laslo & Ernst (6-5-2024)Ask a Pol asks:What is your position on the SAFER Banking Act?Key Ernst: “Not really in favor,” Sen. Joni Ernst exclusively told Ask a Pol. “So I’d have to sit down and sort through it … so many groups have come and spoken to me about it.” Caught our ear:“But I do not want to encourage [use],” Ernst told us. “I am not in favor of legalized marijuana, so I just think that just provides an easier avenue.” ICYMI — Some recreational pot opponents support SAFER Banking Act Below find two rough transcripts of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interviews with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), slightly edited for clarity.ICYMI — Join Ask a Pol’s VIP subscriber-only chat!TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Joni Ernst (6-5-2024)SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo greets Sen. Joni Ernst after she exits the tram underneath the US Capitol as she heads to the floor of the US Senate. Matt Laslo: “How are you? Do you know where you are on SAFER Banking?”Joni Ernst: “It’s the marijuana bill?”ML: “Yeah.”SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT**Student? Lost your gig? Hard times? Been there. Got you. No questions asked. Just ping us.JE: “Not really in favor.” Sen. Ernst laughs.ML: “Yeah?” JE: “I’d have to sit down and sort through it. I know that there are so many — so many groups have come and spoken to me about it, but…”ML: “Mostly opposed? Or Bankers Association?”JE: “No. There’s bankers that are for it. But I do not want to encourage — I am not in favor of legalized marijuana, so I just think that just provides an easier avenue.”Ernst looks to the Senate elevator attendant. JE: “Right, Timothy?”Timothy laughs.Timothy: “Yeah.”JE: “Yeah. Thank you.”ML: “Yep. Thank you, ma’am.”Andrey Beregovskiy and Walken Whalen contributed to this report.Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to 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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Sen. Heinrich: All-cash cannabis companies "just attracts really bad elements"
Dec 16, 202400:02:16Tap to summarizeWho?Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) LISTEN: Laslo & Heinrich (& Sen. Susan Collins) Ask a Pol asks:What is your position on the SAFER Banking Act?Key Heinrich: “But you need certainty in those kinds of financial situations,” Sen. Martin Heinrich exclusively told Ask a Pol. “That’s what we ought to be providing.”We can’t keep hounding all 100 US senators on cannabis without your support! ICYMI — Ask a Pol exclusive with Mitt Romney Caught our ear:“I wouldn't move that kind of cash without an armored car,” Heinrich told us. Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), slightly edited for clarity.ICYMI — Join Ask a Pol’s VIP subscriber-only chat!TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Martin Heinrich SCENE: After hopping the tram from his office to the US Capitol, Sen. Martin Heinrich’s greeted by Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo. The two proceed to talk as they walk through the basement until they hop an elevator occupied by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) — who Laslo proceeds to interview as well. Matt Laslo: “Do you know where you are on SAFER Banking?”Martin Heinrich: “Yes, favorable.”ML: “Yeah? What do you think of the DEA moving on it, like does that take some leverage away from you all who want…?”SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT**Student? Lost your gig? Hard times? Been there. Got you. No questions asked. Just ping us.MH: “I don't think so. I mean, it’s something that — I mean it's good to have, like, incremental progress on this stuff.”ML: “Yeah?”MH: “But you need certainty in those kinds of financial situations.”ML: “Yeah?”MH: “That’s what we ought to be providing. There's a lot of public safety problems with having…”ML: “All cash?”MH: “…a bunch of cash. I’ve talked to these folks in New Mexico — cause we’ve had medical [marijuana] for a long time and got recreation a couple years ago — and it just attracts really bad elements to have that kind of…”ML: “Well, in Colorado and stuff they have like armored cars, or those groups like C or whatever.”MH: “Yeah. I wouldn't move that kind of cash without an armored car.”ML: “That's literally creating a public health issue. That’s interesting.”Susan Collins: “That’s an interesting conversation to drop into.”Aide: “She was asking all about cannabis and…”ML: “You’re still supportive of SAFER Banking right?”SC: “I am…” Andrey Beregovskiy and Walken Whalen contributed to this report.Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to 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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Majority Leader Chuck Schumer scowls when asked about SAFER Banking Act
Dec 16, 202400:01:06Tap to summarizeLAZ: I DIDN’T HEAR HIM RESPONDING, DID HE IGNORE YOU OR I JUST DON’T HEAR IT? I LEFT THE ‘Key Schumer:’ PART EMPTY IN CASE I MISSED IT**note from intern…they heard correctly… Who?Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — Senate Majority Leader LISTEN: Laslo & SchumerAsk a Pol asks:When will we see SAFER Banking Act?Key Schumer: Silence. Sen. Chuck Schumer refused to answer Ask a Pol.ICYMI — Ask a Pol exclusvies with entire US Senate Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Chuck SchumerSCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo catches Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer — along with his entourage of staffers and security — walking through the Capitol when he asks for an update on the SAFER Banking Act, which has passed the House, even as Schumer’s never let it hit his Senate floor for debate, let alone a vote... Matt Laslo: “Mr. Leader, when are we gonna see SAFER Banking Act?”Chuck Schumer: scowls ML: “Preciate ya.”Laslo smirks. Andrey Beregovskiy and Walken Whalen contributed to this report.ICYMI — Join Ask a Pol’s VIP subscriber-only chat!Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to 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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