Elections are just days ahead and voters are now diving into last-minute research on top candidates to vote for, aligning their choices with the issues they care about most. The cannabis industry is particularly interested with the presidential elections, as both major candidates – Vice President Harris and former President Trump – have made marijuana reform a key part of their campaign platforms.
While both candidates display support for marijuana reform for 2024, their strategies and underlying motivations reveal distinct approaches to marijuana policy. Here’s your comprehensive guide to each candidate’s stance on this controversial issue.
Kamala Harris Cannabis Policy
Despite her previous ambiguous stance on marijuana when she was serving as prosecutor and attorney general in San Francisco and California, citing some concerns on effectively detecting impairment for legal driving, Vice President Kamala Harris is now publicly supporting the legalization of cannabis in the country. In 2010, she opposed the initiative to legalize the drug as recreational use but supported medical marijuana. She also oversaw over 1,900 convictions of cannabis-related violations. Still, it is notable that only a few ended up in prison.
Nevertheless, Harris displayed an evolving stance throughout her career, cosponsoring federal marijuana legalization and supported efforts to expunge nonviolent cannabis-related offenses when she served in the Senate from 2017 to 2021. She sponsored the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, aiming to decriminalize cannabis and address social equity issues.
Now, as a presidential candidate, Harris has argued that it is high time to decriminalize cannabis use as, historically, this restriction has disproportionately targeted marginalized communities. Harris cannabis reform is driven by statistics showing more black people have been arrested for offenses related to marijuana four times more than white people, even though both use the drug at the same rate. Harris declared that making marijuana legal at the federal level will be one of her top priorities once she takes the presidential seat.
Donald Trump Marijuana Stance
Since his presidency began in 2016, Donald Trump has fluctuated in his support for marijuana reform, expressing both advocacy for medical use and skepticism towards recreational legalization. His stance reflects a preference for a state-by-state approach to legalization, as he expressed concerns about the potential impacts of federal cannabis legalization, emphasizing concerns over health effects and the potential increase in the drug trade relating to cannabis.
He emphasized the need to further study marijuana’s medical capabilities, questioning the overall efficacy and consequences of broader legalization efforts and expressing interest in studying the health impacts and drug trade in Colorado, who has long legalized recreational marijuana use.
Now with the 2024 election race, Trump has expressed his support for easing restrictions even with recreational marijuana, even when his Republican party have opposed it. He declared his vote to legalize recreational adult use in Florida, as he posted, “As I have previously stated, I believe it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use.” Trump marijuana policy may also involve some additional funding for more research on the drugs medical use to unlock its further potential as it becomes recategorized as a Schedule 3 drug.
Comparisons and Implications: State vs. Federal Cannabis Regulation
Donald Trump’s fluctuating support for marijuana reform since 2016 reflects his cautious approach, advocating for state-by-state regulation while questioning broader legalization effects. In contrast, Kamala Harris champions federal legalization to address racial disparities in cannabis enforcement. The outcome of the election will significantly influence the 2024 cannabis policy and, in turn, the future of the cannabis industry, with a Harris victory likely leading to more robust federal reforms and investment, while a Trump win could maintain the status quo, complicating efforts for industry expansion.
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— Story Filed By 420CanNews Staff
Here’s more information on the Topic:
Trump says he will vote to legalize adult recreational marijuana use in Florida
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/09/politics/trump-marijuana-florida/index.html
Kamala Harris said she’s long supported legalizing weed. What her California record shows
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/election/presidential-election/article293256514.html
Does Kamala Harris Support Marijuana Legalization? Squaring Words with Actions in an Evolving Political Environment
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/does-kamala-harris-support-marijuana-2925886/
Donald Trump’s unlikely weed wager
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/15/donald-trump-marijuana-legalization-00179205
Trump, Harris And DeSantis Face Off On Cannabis Legalization In Florida And Beyond
https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/10/41656678/trump-harris-and-desantis-face-off-on-cannabis-legalization-in-florida-and-beyond
