Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump: Who’s Really for Cannabis Reform?

As the 2024 election heats up, a lot of voters are thinking about the marijuana reform issue. Seems like every candidate either promises to legalize it or promises to keep it illegal, but there are a lot more factors to consider than that alone.

We figure that with the laws evolving state by state almost every night, 75+% of the states having some version of legalization, with the major shift in perception and acceptance of weed, knowing where the presidential candidates stand on this subject is crucial.

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris’s journey with cannabis has been, well, a bit of a rollercoaster. Back when she was California’s Attorney General, she wasn’t exactly a cheerleader for weed. In fact, when asked about legalizing adult-use cannabis in 2014, she literally laughed it off. At that time, Harris didn’t put much effort into pushing for marijuana reform, even though she had plenty of opportunities.

Fast forward a few years, and Harris’s tune changed dramatically. By 2019, she was all about legalizing marijuana, even co-sponsoring the Marijuana Justice Act, which aimed to decriminalize weed nationwide and address racial disparities in drug sentencing. This shift was a major turnaround from her earlier stance and seemed to align with the growing pro-legalization vibe across the country.

As a Senator, Harris became more vocal about cannabis. She sponsored the MORE Act, a bill that proposed removing marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act and clearing certain cannabis-related criminal records. While this was a big move, it’s worth noting that the bill didn’t have much of a shot at becoming law. Still, it showed that Harris was stepping up her game on cannabis issues.

Since becoming Vice President, Harris has been pretty quiet on the weed front. Her record shows she’s moved toward supporting legalization, but it’s hard to say how much of a priority it would be for her as President. If her past is any indicator, Harris is likely to back cannabis reform if it aligns with her political goals, but it might not be at the top of her to-do list.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s stance on marijuana is, to put it simply, all over the place. He’s always been a wild card. Back in 2015, he showed some love for medical marijuana, saying he was “100%” in favor of it helping people with serious health issues. He also took the “let the states decide” approach when it came to legalizing recreational weed, which sounds nice in theory but doesn’t really push for any federal change.

During his time as President, Trump’s actions on cannabis were a mixed bag. On the one hand, he appointed Jeff Sessions, a die-hard opponent of marijuana, as Attorney General. Sessions tried to roll back protections for state-legal cannabis businesses but didn’t get very far. On the other hand, Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized industrial hemp, and the First Step Act, which reformed some harsh federal sentencing laws, including those related to drug offenses.

Trump’s stance on weed is hard to pin down because, frankly, he’s been known to change his mind—often. He’s made moves that suggest he could support cannabis reform, especially when it aligns with his business-minded approach to job creation and economic growth. But his past appointments and endorsements from groups that oppose legalization keep things murky.

Harris vs. Trump on Marijuana

So, how do these two stack up when it comes to cannabis?

Kamala Harris has come a long way from her days of laughing off legalization. She’s now in favor of federal legalization and has co-sponsored significant cannabis bills. However, it’s unclear how much she’d push for it as President. Her past suggests she’ll support weed reform if it’s politically advantageous, but it might not be her top focus.

Donald Trump is the wild card in this race. He’s shown some support for medical marijuana and criminal justice reform but has also appointed officials who are staunchly anti-cannabis. His stance on legalization is inconsistent, but he does believe in economic benefits, so it remains up in the air.

In the end, both candidates have had their moments of support and opposition when it comes to marijuana. For voters who care about the future of cannabis policy, understanding where these candidates stand—and where they might go—is crucial. Weigh these factors as you consider your votes in the upcoming election. In the meantime, imagine all the politicians moved from the greed of cocaine & pharma, to the love of cannabis, giving rebirth to happy hearts that swell with love, compassion, and servitude for their fellow man, god & country.