Kamala Harris Is the First US Presidential Candidate to Support Cannabis Legalization

Kamala Harris, the current vice president of the United States, is poised to become the first female president of the United States, but also the first candidate for that position from a major party who openly supports the legalization of cannabis.

Her path to this position has been full of changes and evolutions that not only reflect her personal views but also the changing attitudes of American society towards the issue of drugs.

Kamala Harris’ Initial Position

In 2010, Kamala Harris served as San Francisco District Attorney, where her stance on cannabis was decidedly negative. Harris, as a leading justice official, publicly called for the rejection of a proposal to legalize cannabis for recreational use in California, known as Proposition 19.

Her actions were in line with the majority of voters in the state, with 54 percent of voters voting against the measure. At the time, Harris argued that legalization could lead to social problems, such as increased crime and addiction.

Society’s Changing Attitude Towards Cannabis

Since 2010, Americans’ attitudes toward cannabis have undergone a significant transformation. In 2016, California became one of several states to legalize cannabis for recreational use by passing Proposition 64. According to Gallup, support for cannabis legalization in the United States has increased from 46% in 2010 to 66% in 2019, and currently hovers around 70%.

This increase in support is the result of a number of factors, including growing public acceptance, education about the potential health benefits of cannabis, and experiences with legal cannabis markets in individual states.

The Evolution of Kamala Harris’ Position

Kamala Harris, like many politicians and citizens, has changed her stance on cannabis. Her personal experiences with loved ones who used medical cannabis have had a significant impact on her approach. In 2016, while campaigning for U.S. Senator, Harris expressed support for drug policy reform and ending federal cannabis prohibition.

In 2019, as a senator, she co-sponsored the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE), which aimed to eliminate federal penalties for cannabis possession and supported expunging criminal records of people convicted of cannabis-related offenses. Harris argued that no one should be punished for using cannabis, emphasizing that policies that criminalize cannabis users are unfair and disproportionately affect ethnic minorities.

The Impact of Cannabis Legalization on Society

Legalization of cannabis at the state level has brought numerous benefits. First and foremost, it has reduced the number of arrests for minor cannabis possession offenses, which has reduced the burden on the justice and prison systems. In addition, legalization has created a new, booming sector of the economy, generating over 400,000 full-time jobs . Since legalization, cannabis sales tax revenues have exceeded $20 billion , which has supported state budgets to fund education, public health, and other important social initiatives.

One of the main arguments of opponents of legalization was the fear that cannabis would become more accessible to youth. However, studies conducted in states that have legalized cannabis have shown that its availability to minors has not increased and in some cases has even decreased. This is due to regulations that impose severe restrictions on the sale of cannabis to minors and educational campaigns aimed at youth.

Kamala Harris as a symbol of change

Kamala Harris has become a symbol of the changing views on cannabis in the U.S. Her transformation from an early skeptic to a leading voice in favor of legalization illustrates how rapidly views on the subject are changing in American society.

Unlike Harris, many politicians still cling to outdated views, often based on myths and misinformation. Harris, at the forefront of this change, is calling for updated federal policy to better reflect current scientific and social realities.

Summary and Conclusions

As the first major U.S. presidential candidate to openly support cannabis legalization, Kamala Harris represents a significant shift in U.S. drug policy. Her evolution on the issue reflects growing public support for legalization.

Her stance offers hope for continued reform at the federal level that could end decades of unjust policies that criminalize cannabis users. As society and politicians continue to evolve, the future of drug policy in the U.S. may depend largely on leaders who are willing to take a new approach and openly support legalization, as Kamala Harris has done.

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(Featured image by Shelby Ireland via Unsplash)

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First published in Fakty Konopne. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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