For the first time in American history, both major presidential candidates, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, support reforming the nation’s cannabis laws, with varying degrees of legalization. While neither has made cannabis reform a central issue in their campaigns, the 2024 presidential election could be a significant step towards larger reforms long sought by activists.
A recent Gallup poll found that 70% of Americans believe marijuana should be legal, with majorities across gender, racial, educational, and political lines. Since 2012, 24 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized marijuana for personal use, and 14 states have legalized medical marijuana.
Harris, 59, has been a vocal proponent of marijuana legalization since her election to the Senate in 2016. She introduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, which would remove cannabis from the list of controlled dangerous substances, and co-sponsored the Marijuana Justice Act. Harris has also supported the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which would allow federally insured banks and credit unions to take on cannabis businesses.
Trump, 78, has taken a more moderate stance on cannabis reform. While he has not made it a central issue in his campaign, he has expressed support for the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act, which would have barred the federal government from interfering with states’ cannabis laws. Trump has also announced his support for a Florida ballot initiative to legalize marijuana and has endorsed the Biden Administration’s effort to reschedule cannabis as a Schedule III drug.
Despite their differing stances, both candidates have received support from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), with Harris receiving an “A” grade and Trump receiving a “C” grade. The 2024 presidential election could be a significant step towards larger reforms, with a majority of Americans supporting marijuana legalization.
