If Kamala Harris is elected president, she will be “ready to sign” marijuana reform bills into law, according to a Democratic senator. Harris, who is currently the Vice President, has a history of supporting cannabis legalization and has sponsored a comprehensive legalization bill in the Senate.
Several Democratic lawmakers have expressed optimism about the potential for marijuana reform under a Harris administration. Senator Jeff Merkley, who sponsors a bipartisan marijuana banking bill, said that Harris “will be very supportive” of cannabis reform and will sign bills into law if they pass.
Senator Ron Wyden, another Democratic senator, believes that having Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, in the White House will embolden more states to take action on issues of “private liberty” such as cannabis legalization. Wyden also thinks that the Congress is lagging behind the American people on this issue.
Other lawmakers, such as Senator Brian Schatz and Representative Hank Johnson, have also expressed optimism about the potential for marijuana reform under a Harris administration. Schatz believes that if cannabis rescheduling goes through, it will be “powerful electorally” for the Harris-Walz ticket, while Johnson thinks that the election of Harris and Walz will “herald a new day in America” for cannabis reform.
On the other hand, some lawmakers are more cautious in their predictions. Senator Tim Kaine thinks that it would “make some sense” for Harris to advocate for reform that goes beyond the current administration’s rescheduling push, but for now, he thinks it’s “most important” for Congress to enact cannabis banking legislation.
Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee’s 2024 platform does not explicitly endorse decriminalization, but it does tout President Joe Biden’s marijuana pardons and rescheduling directive, as well as calling for expungements.
The article also mentions that some lawmakers have expressed concerns about the potential for marijuana reform under a Trump administration. Trump has recently indicated that he is open to decriminalization, but some lawmakers believe that he is not to be trusted on this issue.
