USA: Snoop Dogg joins forces with a Republican billionaire to legalize cannabis

They're an unusual couple. No one would have imagined that the actor who plays Doggystyle with billionaire Charles Koch. And yet. Snoop Dogg has teamed up with a petrochemical magnate—the 24th-richest person in the world, an outspoken conservative, and a major financier of the Republican Party. The two have just create the Cannabis Freedom Alliance (CFA). Stated goal: to legalize cannabis at the federal level. That is, throughout the United States, and not just in the 15 states where the product is authorized.

According to Politico, the idea reportedly came about during a Zoom conference call between Koch, Snoop, and Weldon Angelos, a former drug dealer turned legalization activist. The timing is well-chosen: the Pressure is mounting on Joe Biden to legalize cannabis across the country. A bill is being drafted in the Senate. But in the upper chamber of Congress, the Democratic and Republican parties are tied at 50 seats each, even though Vice President Kamala Harris casts the deciding vote in the event of a tie.

For years, Snoop Dogg has been advocating for legalization. The Long Beach rapper is always seen with a joint or a blunt in his hand, to the point that to become a cultural icon stoner. The problem was that he didn’t have much influence with right-wing politicians. With his ally, Snoop will be able to count on the influence (and money) of Charles Koch. The billionaire, with a net worth of $46 billion, according to Forbes, contributed $880 million to the 2016 election campaign. Americans for Prosperity, the Koch lobby might even be in a position to compete with the Republican Party, according to Politico.

«We need the Republicans»

In the press release announcing the launch, no one is beating around the bush. In American politics, the lobbying is not viewed as negatively as it is in France. «We need 10 to 12 Republican senators. With the Kochs» influence, I think that's a possibility,", "I'm thrilled," says Angelos, a member of the CFA.

For years, the legalization of cannabis has been a key issue for the left and the Democratic Party. The right is often opposed to it, as exemplified by Mitch McConnell. This Kentucky senator, who served as majority leader in the Senate during the Trump administration, openly blocked any bill supporting the legalization of cannabis.

But Charles Koch is not a typical conservative. The founder of the multinational Koch Industries is a «libertarian»—an American political label that he sums up as follows: « »My general idea is to minimize the role of government and maximize that of the private sector, as well as individual freedoms." In the case of the Cannabis Freedom Alliance, According to Koch, everyone should be able to smoke cannabis if they want to. And everyone should be able to invest in the industry legally.