Senator Cory Booker Jokes McDonald’s Fries Are More Addictive Than Marijuana, Renews Push for Cannabis Reform

Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a leading advocate for marijuana legalization in Congress, recently delivered a lighthearted jab at federal drug policy by comparing the addictive qualities of McDonald’s french fries to cannabis. Speaking at an event to promote his new book, "Stand," Booker quipped, "I am the leader in the Senate for descheduling marijuana, but we should schedule McDonald’s french fries." His comments, delivered with humor, highlighted the ongoing debate over how substances are regulated in the United States, particularly as cannabis remains federally classified as a Schedule I drug

Booker recounted a personal anecdote involving his longtime driver to illustrate his point, describing a moment when his craving for fast food fries was so intense it felt like a physical addiction. "He, using his telepathic powers, looked in the rearview mirror and saw the look of shame on my face, and he knew that I needed—physical addiction here—I needed some McDonald’s french fries," Booker said. The senator admitted to ordering two servings of fries, comparing his attachment to the snack to Gollum's obsession with the One Ring in "Lord of the Rings."

This is not the first time Booker has used the fast food comparison to underscore his views on cannabis reform. During his 2019 presidential campaign, he made a similar joke, stating, "I’m the guy that believes we should deschedule marijuana on the federal level, but maybe we should schedule those fries because they are very addictive." Booker, a vegan, has previously pointed out the addictive nature of fast food as a way to challenge inconsistencies in federal substance policy, even noting the animal product content of McDonald’s fries compared to those at Burger King

On the policy front, Booker remains cautiously optimistic about recent moves toward cannabis rescheduling. According to Marijuana Moment, Booker said it is "too early to tell" what will come of President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the Department of Justice to expedite moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. He noted, "while there are 'things that look promising' about it, he is 'very concerned about where the DOJ will land.'" Nearly four months after the order, there has been no formal update from the Justice Department

Booker emphasized that administrative rescheduling could create opportunities for additional reforms in Congress, such as the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act, which aims to expand financial services access for cannabis businesses. "As a legislator, for me, that might get us an opening to some of the things that are stalled in Congress," he said. He also confirmed that equity-focused provisions important to him have been incorporated into the SAFER Act, and he continues to champion broader legalization efforts by sponsoring legislation to deschedule marijuana at the federal level

From the OG Lab newsroom perspective, Booker’s blend of humor and advocacy spotlights the contradictions in U.S. substance regulation and keeps the conversation about cannabis reform in the public eye. As federal agencies consider rescheduling and Congress weighs further legislation, the industry and reform advocates will be watching closely for substantive policy changes that could reshape the legal landscape for cannabis across the country