American politics has seen a serious shake-up in the last week. President Biden announced he would be suspending his re-election bid, putting his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris. Meanwhile, former President Trump named Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate. There is much uncertainty headed into November, but members of the cannabis community may wonder what this all means for weed.
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In the last two years, the White House has stepped up efforts to reform cannabis law but has failed to enact meaningful change. The Drug Enforcement Agency is currently considering moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. The shift stems from a Biden administration order for review. Both Biden and Harris have leaned into the cannabis conversation in recent months, repeating the stance that “no one should be in jail simply for smoking weed.”
Nobody should go to jail for smoking weed. During Second Chance Month, I am uplifting the inspiring stories of pardon recipients like Michelle, Chris, and Dexter. Their journeys are proof of the importance of pardons and second chances. pic.twitter.com/6fIuFgPT16
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 12, 2024
During her tenure as a California prosecutor, Harris garnered nearly 2,000 cannabis convictions. Her stance has clearly softened since arriving at the White House, even hosting a roundtable discussion with celebrities like Fat Joe and recipients of presidential cannabis pardons.
The presumed Democratic presidential nominee is likely to continue touting the Biden administration’s perceived progress on cannabis reform and pushing for rescheduling to be finalized. Some pot industry insiders believe Harris may even push for broader reform, including decriminalization, but that remains to be seen as the dust settles on the Democratic ticket shift.
Where does JD Vance stand on weed?
On the other side of the aisle, JD Vance made his first public appearance as the vice presidential candidate at last week’s Republican National Convention. Trump’s opinions on cannabis are seemingly mixed, arguing for states’ right to regulate on their terms while also claiming “genetically engineered” pot may be to blame for mass shootings. Vance’s own opinions on Trump have shifted over the years, meaning he may go along with whatever the former president says regarding cannabis.
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Vance’s opinions are less clear. The junior senator from Ohio voted against the SAFER Banking Act in 2023, citing “safety concerns.” Vance has reportedly said he’s “not a fan of recreational marijuana” while at the same time admitting “you don’t want people thrown in prison for having a dime bag.” Overall, Vance appears to align with Trump on cannabis being a states’ rights issue, according to comments made in a 2023 debate.
J.D. Vance says marijuana should be a “state’s issue” but warns against being “soft on crime”:
“A lot of times … look at the underlying charge — it wasn’t just that they smoked a joint, it’s that they smoked a joint and then beat an elderly woman over the head with a pistol.” pic.twitter.com/E1bcUMlZ7z
— The Recount (@therecount) October 11, 2022
If rescheduling were to be finalized prior to the November election, it remains to be seen whether a Trump win would impact the policy’s implementation. The only certainty at this point is there are more questions than answers heading into the final months of both party’s respective campaigns.
