Trump Vs. Harris on Cannabis - Whose Winning the Hearts of Stoners?
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Harris Vs Trump - Its a High Stakes Debate
Ah, the cannabis debate continues to heat up with tonights HIGHLY publicized debate. We are fast approaching the 2024 election, and we’ve got some interesting dynamics between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump to talk about. Two very different characters, two distinct paths for cannabis reform—or, in some cases, the lack thereof. Let's break it down into simple terms, shall we?
Kamala Harris:
Let’s talk about the vice president first. It’s surprising that despite Harris being a former staunch advocate for federal cannabis legalization, she’s stayed pretty quiet this election cycle on the issue. Her current platform touches on various policies like healthcare and housing, but guess what’s missing? Cannabis. Yep, despite co-sponsoring bills back in 2018 to deschedule marijuana and pushing for legalization, her campaign has left out any mention of it. Talk about a curious omission, right? Especially given that cannabis reform has become such a major part of the national conversation.
Instead, she’s focused on other drug issues like tackling the opioid crisis and making naloxone more accessible. All important, sure, but it leaves a lot of cannabis advocates wondering: where’s the fire she once had for marijuana reform?
- Past Support for Federal Legalization: Back in 2018, Harris was a fierce advocate, co-sponsoring bills to deschedule marijuana and push for federal legalization.
- No Mention in 2024 Campaign: Oddly, this time around, she’s been pretty quiet. There’s no clear cannabis reform policy in her current platform. Cannabis enthusiasts might be wondering—what happened to her passion for the cause?
- Focus on Other Drug Policies: Harris is putting her energy into addressing the opioid crisis and expanding access to naloxone. Important, yes—but for cannabis advocates, it feels like the plant’s been left behind(Benzinga)(Reason.com).
Donald Trump:
Now, let’s shift to Trump. Brace yourselves—he’s had a change of heart. Trump is now all in for rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. Why does this matter? Well, it would make it easier for researchers to study medical marijuana, and cannabis businesses would get a major financial boost by being able to claim federal tax deductions. But hold your applause, because this move wouldn’t make cannabis fully legal under federal law. It’s more of a halfway point.
Trump is also throwing his weight behind state-level legalization efforts, like in Florida, and wants to pass laws that would protect cannabis businesses from being penalized by banks. It’s not full-on legalization, but it’s a step in the right direction—especially for a candidate who once had pretty tough views on pot.
- Rescheduling Cannabis: Trump recently endorsed moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, which would allow for more research and give a financial boost to cannabis businesses by making them eligible for tax deductions. But it stops short of full federal legalization(Reason.com).
- State-Level Legalization: He’s all about letting states like Florida legalize marijuana if they want, and he’s pushing for “safe banking” laws to protect cannabis businesses from financial penalties(Reason.com).
- Previously Opposed to Legalization: Trump had a different view in the past, once criticizing Colorado’s legalization efforts. So, his support for these reforms marks a noticeable shift(Benzinga)(Reason.com).
Key Differences:
- Federal Legalization: Harris was all about federal legalization but has gone silent in this campaign, while Trump supports rescheduling, a more incremental approach.
- State vs. Federal: Trump leans toward letting individual states decide their cannabis policies, focusing on reforms like banking protections. Harris previously championed a more unified federal decriminalization effort but is now focused on other issues.
The Verdict:
So where does that leave us? In a twist, Trump’s taking steps forward on cannabis with his rescheduling plan and state-level support, while Harris—once a frontrunner in cannabis reform—has seemingly sidelined the issue. If you’re hoping for a candidate championing full federal legalization, you might find yourself scratching your head over Harris’ silence. Meanwhile, Trump’s cautious steps could surprise those expecting a tougher stance from him.
So, whether you’re for a full-on overhaul or content with baby steps, the landscape of cannabis policy in 2024 is anything but predictable. Go watch the debate! It airs tonight at 9m EST on ABC—things are bound to evolve.
Charlotte Jones