The legalization of marijuana has gained popularity among Americans, with 57% supporting its legalization for both medical and recreational use. Despite this, the issue has been largely ignored by presidents until now. In the 2024 presidential campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have expressed their views on marijuana legalization.
Trump has not explicitly stated his support for national legalization, but has instead emphasized the importance of leaving the issue to individual states. During his 2016 campaign, Trump suggested that marijuana legalization should be a state-by-state issue. As president, his administration continued to uphold the federal prohibition on marijuana use. However, Trump did propose ending a federal policy that protected state medical marijuana programs from Justice Department intervention in his 2021 budget.
Trump has also expressed support for medical marijuana research, stating that he wants to continue unlocking its potential as a Schedule III drug. This is in contrast to the Drug Enforcement Agency’s recent decision to move marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug, which has fewer restrictions.
In a surprising move, Trump announced that he would vote in favor of a Florida ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana use. This measure would allow individuals 21 and older to possess up to three ounces of marijuana for personal use. Trump’s decision to support the measure is a departure from his previous stance on the issue.
Harris, on the other hand, has expressed her support for legalizing marijuana and decriminalizing its use. She believes that people should not be incarcerated for smoking marijuana and has called for its legalization. However, her stance on the issue is not without controversy. As district attorney of San Francisco, Harris prosecuted marijuana offenses, and as California attorney general, she opposed the legalization of recreational marijuana use.
As a U.S. senator, Harris’ views on marijuana began to shift, and she introduced legislation to legalize marijuana and expunge nonviolent weed offenses. Her stance on the issue has evolved over time, and she now supports legalizing marijuana and ending its criminalization.
In summary, while Trump has not explicitly supported national legalization, he has expressed support for medical marijuana research and has announced his support for a Florida ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana use. Harris, on the other hand, has consistently expressed her support for legalizing marijuana and decriminalizing its use, although her stance on the issue has evolved over time.
