Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris has given further insight into her views on marijuana use and legalization in the USA.
It’s hard to say if cannabis is a hot-button election topic given everything else going on in the USA, but the candidates’ stances will certainly sway some voters.
In an interview last month, Donald Trump backed the rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to the less restrictive classification of Schedule III, stating “we can live with the marijuana”.
Potential rescheduling is the result of a Biden/Harris initiative triggered in 2022, when President Joe Biden directed a review of how marijuana is scheduled under federal law. Since that time, Kamala Harris hasn’t had a lot to say on the issue except her support for rescheduling.
VP Harris has an extensive history in terms of cannabis issues, first as a district attorney and prosecutor and then softening her stance when she became a senator; co-sponsoring various pieces of legislation supporting cannabis.
On the weekend, VP Harris expanded on her views – a little – in an interview during an “All The Smoke” episode, which is hosted by former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. When asked about her stance on marijuana, VP Harris said:
“I just feel strongly people should not be going to jail for smoking weed. And we know historically what that has meant and who has gone to jail.”
So, nothing new there; but then the Vice President went further, stating:
“… I just think we have come to a point where we have to understand that we need to legalize it and stop criminalizing this behavior,” she added.
VP Harris then commented this was not a new position for her.
“I have felt for a long time we need to legalize it.”
Regarding the potential rescheduling of marijuana, a decision won’t happen until after the November presidential election.
No doubt both candidates are aware of the significant support among voters for legalizing marijuana. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in January this year with more than 5,000 adults indicated only 11% believed it should remain illegal at a federal level. 57% said marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational purposes.
