Cannabis Party USA: Interview with Redman on UEP, legalization, black market

Redman has been surprising the hip-hop and cannabis world plus Hollywood icon from How High for decades – but few know his political side. In the USA, he has founded his own cannabis party, which is officially recognized nationwide. In this interview, he explains why the current legal status of cannabis is a big problem for him, why “Schedule 3” is a step backwards and how his party wants to bring about real change. We also take a look at the framework conditions in the USA so that you can understand his statements even better.

Redman’s cannabis party in the USA
In our exclusive Redman interview in Berlin, he talks openly about the structural problems of the US cannabis market. He and his sister founded the UEP – United Empowerment Party – which is the first federally registered cannabis party in the USA. The party wants to completely remove cannabis from the drug laws and create a free, fair market.

3:01 – Difference legal market vs. black market in the USA

3:14 – Founding of the UEP: The first cannabis party in the USA

3:36 – Political recognition: Equality with Democrats & Republicans

3:48 – UEP’s mission: Political power & representation for the cannabis community

4:15 – Main goal of the party: deschedule cannabis (remove completely from the list)

4:30 – Problems of Schedule 3: More regulation, less freedom

5:01 – Structural barriers: Interstate transportation bans

7:54 – Political criticism: Election promises without implementation

8:22 – Problems of legalization: overregulation & dispensary closures (Seattle example)

9:04 – Why Schedule 3 is a step backwards instead of forward

The foundation of the UEP

Redman emphasizes in the interview that cannabis is more than a lifestyle – it is a political issue with a huge impact on the economy, medicine and society. The UEP was founded to stop leaving this debate to politicians who use cannabis as a campaign promise but do little after the election. His sister, Safita Artist Mills, is president of the party and drives the political work forward.

First federally recognized cannabis party in the USA
Objective: political representation of consumers, growers & companies
Could theoretically put forward their own presidential candidate

Why “descheduling” is so important

Redman harshly criticizes the US approach: although cannabis has been moved from Schedule 1 (on a par with heroin) to Schedule 3, according to Redman this makes everything worse. Because under Schedule 3, cannabis is officially considered a prescription drug. This means that only companies with a medical license are allowed to sell it – and that destroys hundreds of thousands of jobs and small dispensaries.

“Deschedule it. PERIOD. Take it off the list completely.” – Redman

His argument is clear: as long as cannabis is classified in a schedule, regardless of which one, the state and the pharmaceutical industry will remain the gatekeepers. Instead, the UEP calls for its complete removal – similar to alcohol or tobacco.

Schedule 3 = medical regulation + higher entry barriers
Small companies lose licenses & competitiveness
“Legalization” without real freedom is just a fraudulent label

Why Schedule 3 in the USA is a step backwards

What Redman only touches on in the interview, but is important, under Schedule 3, dispensaries in many states will have to meet requirements such as:

Medical licenses
Certified dispensaries
Pharmacy-like standards
Expensive quality control systems like in pharmaceutical laboratories

For small stores, this means either investing millions – or closing down. This is precisely why Redman mentions the example of Seattle, where over 90 dispensaries have already had to close due to excessive taxes and regulation.

“They shut down over 90 dispensaries in Seattle alone.”

Political promises without results

Redman clearly states that politicians often only use cannabis to win votes. Biden, for example, promised to decriminalize cannabis – but according to Redman, “nothing happened” after the election. The UEP therefore sees itself as a counter-movement: A party that does not use cannabis as propaganda, but demands real reforms.

Politicians profit, consumers lose
Promises are not implemented
No responsibility, no transparency

Transportation bans between US states

One of Redman’s biggest criticisms concerns the lack of a federal solution:
Even if cannabis is legal in one state, transportation to other states remains illegal – because of federal law. This leads to surreal situations:

A grower may not bring his own strains across state borders
Each state must grow the same plant separately
Overproduction in California, shortage in New York – but no connection possible

Redman explains that it is precisely this vacuum that keeps the black market alive. As long as strict military transportation laws are in place, there will always be someone who “just drives to Maryland and brings it to New York”.

“As long as legalization exists somewhere – there will always be black market.”

Why the community needs to unite

According to Redman, the UEP wants to unite the cannabis world “under one roof”. He criticizes the fact that consumers and even entrepreneurs in the industry have hardly any political lobby. Without a common organization, politicians would have an easy time enforcing rules without resistance.

UEP wants to create national representation for cannabis
Protection from unfair taxes & regulations
Preventing further dispensary closures

Background: How does legalization work in the USA?
To help you better understand Redman’s statements, here is a brief overview of the system in the USA – without deleting anything from the original content.

Federal vs. state law

Two levels apply in the USA:

Federal law → Cannabis remains illegal
Federal states → can legalize cannabis

This leads to contradictions: A business can be legal and illegal at the same time, depending on the state.

Why the black market remains so strong

Many states have extremely high taxes and regulation (e.g. Washington with a 50% tax), making it impossible for legal traders to compete with the black market. In addition, transportation bans create artificial bottlenecks.

Why Redman is right: Schedule 3 is a real risk

Many experts fear the same thing as Redman: Under Schedule 3, large pharmaceutical companies could dominate the market because they are the only ones who fulfill the medical requirements.

Pharmaceutical companies would have advantages
Small stores lose market share
Patients risk higher prices

Redman’s political mission carries weight

Häufig von anderen gelesen

Redman shows a new, politically reflective side in the interview. His criticism of Schedule 3, unfair taxes, the lack of a nationwide solution and empty promises from politicians accurately reflects the reality of US legalization. With the UEP, he wants to ensure that cannabis is not just “legal”, but fair, accessible and truly free.