Tracking Kamala Harris’ Stance on Cannabis Legalization

October 28, 2024

As cannabis becomes a key election topic in 2024, understanding where candidates really stand—beyond their campaign promises—matters more than ever. With Vice President Kamala Harris recently highlighting her support for full cannabis legalization as part of her “Opportunity Economy” pledge to appeal to Black voters, voters on the left & right are left to consider if her record and current positioning align.

Cannabis is set to be one of the big-ticket items involved in the upcoming presidential election, especially with over 70% of Americans believing it should be legal. But this year, things are a little different. Both major presidential candidates are open to changing the way the United States looks at cannabis.

Kamala Harris was once known for her tough-on-crime approach as a prosecutor in California. No stranger to making headlines, as the 2024 Democratic frontrunner, she’s no stranger to evolution either. Harris has since shifted gears a few times over the years, becoming a key voice in the fight for federal cannabis reform. It’s been quite the journey, from dismissing legalization with a laugh in 2014 to her approach on social equity today.

With cannabis being a hot topic for voters, particularly as the U.S. inches closer to full federal legalization, Harris’ evolving stance is one to watch. According to a 2024 Pew Research poll, nearly 88% of Americans now support cannabis legalization in some form. This shift in public opinion mirrors Harris’ own change over the years, and her position could shape the future of federal cannabis policy.

But the big question remains: Will Harris be the one to finally make cannabis legalization a reality in the U.S.? Let’s dive into her timeline, her record, and what her future stance might look like.

Timeline of Kamala Harris’ Shifting Cannabis Stance

Kamala Harris’ journey with cannabis reform is definitely a political glow-up. Back in 2010, when California was debating Prop 19—the ballot measure to legalize recreational weed—Harris wasn’t exactly leading the charge. As the state’s Attorney General, she vocally opposed the initiative, raising a few eyebrows, especially as the cannabis conversation was heating up. And in 2014, she famously laughed off a reporter’s question about legalization. Not exactly the hero of the cannabis movement at that point.

But then, around 2015 (just like a lot of other Americans), Harris’ stance started to mellow out. She called for an end to the federal ban on medical marijuana, signaling the start of her shift. By 2016, California voted on Prop 64 to fully legalize recreational cannabis, and it passed. However, Harris stayed noticeably quiet at that point, and didn’t publicly address it at all. She didn’t jump on board, but she didn’t slam the brakes either.

Her real pivot came when she entered the U.S. Senate. In 2018, she co-sponsored the Marijuana Justice Act with Senator Cory Booker, pushing for legalization but also racial justice reforms to tackle how weed laws have disproportionately impacted communities of color. Around that point is when Harris threw herself into the ring and began advocating for it instead of against it.

By 2019, when Harris launched her presidential campaign, she went all-in on federal legalization. She proudly sponsored the MORE Act, a bill designed to decriminalize cannabis and wipe clean the records of those with past marijuana convictions.

Recently, she reinforced this message in her campaign’s “Opportunity Economy” plan, which promotes cannabis reform, support for Black entrepreneurs, and even federal cryptocurrency regulation to appeal to younger republican and Black voters.

However, Harris’ evolving stance has some questioning if these are lasting commitments or strategic appeals to the voting base. On a recent All the Smoke podcast, Harris acknowledged that “we need to legalize it and stop criminalizing this behavior,” and affirmed that she’s felt this way for a long time. Yet, with shifting campaign promises and policies that mirror trending voter interests, many wonder if this evolution is more of a vote-bait tactic rather than a promise of genuine reform.

Public Perception

When it comes to Kamala Harris and cannabis, public opinion has been pretty complicated. In her early days as California’s Attorney General, Harris was seen by many as a classic “tough-on-crime” politician—especially when it came to weed.

Under her watch, more than 1,900 people were convicted for cannabis-related offenses in San Francisco. To make matters worse, during her 2020 presidential run, Tulsi Gabbard’s viral takedown about Harris locking people up for marijuana charges made headlines and left a lasting sting.

But, like a plot twist in a good drama, Harris’ position began to change—and so did public perception. By the time she co-sponsored the Marijuana Justice Act in 2018, people started to see her in a new light. Her shift toward championing cannabis reform, especially with an emphasis on racial justice, began to win her points with progressives.

Still, her past wasn’t something she could shake off that easily. For a lot of cannabis advocates, Harris’ record as a prosecutor felt like a roadblock. Even as she pushed for federal legalization, expungement of past offenses, and racial equity in drug laws, some critics weren’t convinced it wasn’t just political calculus and a ploy to win votes.

And yet, it’s hard to ignore the stats: cannabis is a wildly popular issue. According to a 2024 Gallup poll, 70% of Americans favor legalization. Harris’ shift mirrors this national trend, and while some may question the authenticity of her evolution, there’s no denying that her stance is now aligned with the majority of voters.

At this point, public perception is still split. Some see her as a latecomer to the movement, while others are ready to embrace her as a key player in pushing cannabis reform forward.

Kamala Harris and the Culture Connection

While she’s no Snoop Dogg, Harris has found herself closely tied to the weed conversation—both politically and culturally. Back in 2019, during a radio interview on The Breakfast Club, she made headlines by casually admitting that she smoked weed in college and, yes, she did inhale (cue the Bill Clinton reference). So she owned up to it. But she also wasn’t afraid to laugh with the public and lean into a more relatable image.

Beyond the fun soundbites, though, Harris’ shift on cannabis reflects a broader cultural movement. Weed is no longer just a counterculture thing; it’s mainstream. From wellness influencers to Wall Street investors, cannabis has entered the cultural spotlight. And with 24 states already legalizing recreational use, federal legalization feels more like a “when” than an “if.”

While Harris has definitely aligned herself with the pro-legalization crowd, her past as a prosecutor still creates a lot of pushback. Some parts of the cannabis community haven’t forgotten her role in convicting people for weed offenses. Harris has often been a target of critique, but at the same time, her stance on marijuana has earned her a nod from some who see her as a political leader who gets it, at least now. Better late than never, right?

Kamala Harris’ Current Stance on Cannabis Legalization

As Vice President, Harris has consistently supported federal legalization. She was a major sponsor of the MORE Act—legislation designed to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, decriminalize it federally, and expunge prior cannabis-related convictions.

Her stance has evolved to emphasize the deeper social justice implications, like addressing the disproportionate impact of past cannabis laws on communities of color. She’s pushed for policies that not only legalize weed but also aim to correct the wrongs of the past, particularly for Black and Brown communities who’ve been hit hardest by the War on Drugs.

One of the biggest moves under the Biden-Harris administration was the push to review marijuana’s classification as a Schedule I drug. While this rescheduling process is still playing out, it’s clear that Harris wants to move things forward. Shifting marijuana to Schedule III would be a big win, making it easier for businesses to operate legally and removing some of the heavy criminal penalties associated with weed.

She’s also made herself crystal clear in her belief that no one should be in jail for something that’s legal in a growing number of states. It’s a simple, but powerful, message that resonates with many Americans. Whether or not she’ll get the chance to lead the charge from the Oval Office remains to be seen, but she seems ready to make legalization a reality.

What a Harris Presidency Could Mean for Cannabis

One of the biggest moves on the horizon is likely to be the rescheduling or even descheduling of marijuana. Right now, it sits alongside heroin and LSD as a Schedule I drug, meaning it’s classified as having no medical value and a high potential for abuse. Harris has already pushed for marijuana to be moved to Schedule III, a less restrictive category, which would open up huge opportunities for the industry and make it easier for businesses to operate legally. But there’s also a real chance she could go further and advocate for full de-scheduling, removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act entirely.

Another key area of focus? Social equity. Harris has made it clear that cannabis reform is about righting the wrongs of the past. Expect to see a strong push for expunging past cannabis convictions, particularly for non-violent offenders, and creating opportunities for communities disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs to participate in the legal cannabis market.

A Harris presidency could also mean new opportunities for the cannabis industry, particularly in terms of banking and taxation. The SAFE Banking Act, which aims to allow cannabis businesses to access the financial system, has been floating around Congress for years. With Harris in office, it could finally get the push it needs to pass. This would be a huge win for cannabis businesses, many of which have struggled to operate due to the cash-only nature of the industry.

The Road Ahead for Cannabis and Kamala Harris

As we look ahead, the cannabis landscape is changing fast, and Kamala Harris is right in the middle of it. Whether you’re a die-hard supporter or a skeptical critic, one thing is clear: if Harris secures the presidency, cannabis reform is likely to stay on the table.

The reality is, cannabis reform—like many policy issues—is about more than just one person. Even with Harris in the White House, the road to full federal legalization won’t be without its bumps. There are still plenty of lawmakers who are hesitant (if not outright opposed) to the idea of legalizing weed, especially within the more conservative ranks of Congress. So, while Harris may push for legislation like the MORE Act or rescheduling, it’s going to take a lot of political maneuvering to get these reforms through.

Then there’s the cultural shift that’s already underway. Whether it’s through her own cannabis evolution or the broader societal change around weed, Harris’ presidency could represent a tipping point. Cannabis is no longer the taboo it once was, and as more states continue to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana, the pressure for federal reform will only grow.

Still, the question remains: Will Harris prioritize cannabis reform, or will it become just one of many issues competing for her attention? Her supporters hope that the momentum she’s built around social equity and legalization will continue to drive her forward. But at the end of the day, how much of a priority cannabis reform will be in her administration is something only time—and voters—will tell.