Kamala Harris says, “I will legalize recreational marijuana, break down unjust legal barriers, and create opportunities for all Americans to succeed in this new industry.”
The democratic presidential candidate took to X, formerly Twitter, just a few days prior to the presidential election on Tuesday, November 5, to reiterate her stance on marijuana.
In late October, Kamala Harris announced that if she is elected president, she would fully legalize adult recreational cannabis at the federal level.
This marks the first time a presidential nominee has taken such a clear position on ending cannabis prohibition.
As part of her commitment, Harris emphasized the need to ensure that Black men, who have been disproportionately affected by the war on drugs, benefit from the cannabis industry.
Vince Sliwoski, a partner at the cannabis law firm Harris and Sliwoski, expressed his approval of Harris’s messaging but cautioned that such a change cannot be enacted immediately upon taking office, as it requires legislative action rather than executive orders.
Griffen Thorne, another cannabis attorney, viewed the announcement as politically motivated, especially given its timing just weeks — now days, before the election.
He and other experts believe Harris’s campaign is trying to gain support from Black voters, particularly Black men, who currently favor Biden over Harris, according to a New York Times poll.
Cat Packer, director of drug markets and legal regulation at Drug Policy Action, highlighted that supporting federal marijuana legalization is not only a sound policy but also a smart strategy to appeal to a broad range of voters, including Black Americans.
Packer, who has experience in regulating marijuana, acknowledged the challenges in creating equitable legal markets and the harms caused by federal prohibition.
Harris’s plan includes provisions aimed at removing barriers for Black men in the cannabis industry, setting her apart from both her opponent and her predecessor.
While both Trump and Biden have shown some support for cannabis legalization, Harris is the first to prioritize ending prohibition outright.
During his presidency, Biden made several promises related to cannabis, such as expunging criminal records for possession convictions and rescheduling cannabis for FDA approval. However, progress has been slow, with only a small fraction of convictions expunged.
Trump has also shifted his stance on cannabis, supporting a Florida ballot initiative for recreational legalization. However, his past actions, including appointing anti-drug advocate Jeff Sessions as attorney general, have left lingering distrust among cannabis advocates.
Harris further distinguishes herself by advocating for social equity provisions to ensure that marginalized communities benefit from the cannabis industry.
However, implementing these provisions can be challenging. Despite having control of Congress, the Democrats struggled to pass cannabis reform due to disagreements over the adequacy of social equity measures.
Sliwoski pointed to the More Act, which Harris co-sponsored in 2019, as a potential blueprint for her future support.
This legislation would require tracking demographic data about cannabis business owners and create a fund to assist communities harmed by the war on drugs.
Reactions within the cannabis industry to Harris’s pledge are mixed.
Caleb Counts, CEO of Connected Cannabis, expressed skepticism about politicians making promises for federal legalization during election cycles, noting that the industry has faced many unfulfilled commitments in the past.
“I’m not shocked to hear another politician make claims for federal legalization of cannabis in hopes of catching a few extra votes during an election year. It’s not the first time, but I do hope it’s the last,” said Counts.
“This industry has been strung along far too many times with far too many broken promises.”
Conversely, Bryan Gerber, CEO of Hara Supply, found Harris’s stance encouraging, highlighting that her support for cannabis reform predates her presidential campaign.
“With Harris’s stance clear, it seems hopeful that she would sign a full-scale legalization bill or related legislation, such as increased medical marijuana access for veterans, social justice initiatives and industry banking reforms,” Gerber said.
“This, of course, is only possible if Congress can successfully land a bill on the president’s desk.”
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