Washington – In a potentially historic move, President Donald Trump has expressed his support for reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug at the federal level. This puts him in line with his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, and marks a significant shift in public opinion towards cannabis legalization.
According to the U.S. Cannabis Council, this is the first time in history that both major-party presidential candidates have supported broad cannabis reform. This shift reflects the growing public support for legalization in recent years.
In a late-night post on his social media platform, Trump announced that he would be voting “yes” on a proposal to allow the sale of marijuana to adults for any reason in Florida. This announcement comes just before the two candidates are set to meet for a crucial debate, setting the stage for a potential criticism of Harris’s past cannabis prosecutions during her time as district attorney in San Francisco.
Trump’s support for cannabis reform could also be seen as an effort to increase his support among non-white men, as drug prosecutions disproportionately affect non-white defendants in the U.S.
Harris, on the other hand, has been a vocal advocate for decriminalization and has called the current classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD, “absurd.” However, earlier in her career, she oversaw the enforcement of cannabis laws and opposed the legalization of recreational use for adults in California while running for attorney general in 2010.
Harris has faced criticism for her prosecutorial record in the past, most notably from Democrat-turned-Trump supporter Tulsi Gabbard, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and left the party in 2022.
During his 2016 campaign, Trump had stated that marijuana policy should be left up to the states. However, during his term in the White House, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions lifted an Obama-era policy that prevented federal authorities from interfering with the marijuana trade in states where it is legal.
The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) is currently in the process of reviewing the federal classification of marijuana, as called for by President Joe Biden. However, a final decision on the reclassification may not be made until the next presidential administration, making the candidates’ positions on the issue even more significant.
While federal drug policy has been slow to catch up with the changing attitudes towards marijuana, many states have already taken steps towards legalization. Currently, 38 states have legalized medical marijuana, and 24 have legalized recreational use.
According to a Gallup poll taken last year, about 70% of adults in the U.S. support legalization, the highest level ever recorded by the polling firm. This is more than double the support for legalization in 2000, which was only around 30%. The poll also showed that support for legalization is even higher among young voters, a key demographic in seven main battleground states.
David Culver, senior vice president of public affairs at the U.S. Cannabis Council, believes that cannabis reform is a winning issue. He stated in a press release, “We believe cannabis reform is a winning issue.”
It’s important to note that the proposed reclassification of marijuana would not legalize recreational use outright. Instead, it would move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, alongside drugs like ketamine and some anabolic steroids.
However, this proposed shift is facing opposition from advocates who argue that there isn’t enough data to support the reclassification. Attorneys general from more than a dozen states have also expressed their opposition to the reclassification, according to the group Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
Trump’s announcement comes on the same day that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a fellow Republican who previously challenged him for the 2024 presidential nomination, spoke at City Church Tallahassee. DeSantis strongly opposed two ballot initiatives set to be voted on in November – one to enshrine abortion rights and the other to legalize recreational marijuana.
DeSantis has been vocal in his opposition to the marijuana amendment, stating that it would negatively impact the quality of life in Florida cities by leaving a “marijuana stench” in the air. The Florida Republican Party has also officially denounced the amendment, stating in a resolution in May that it would benefit “powerful marijuana special interests” while putting children at risk and endangering the state’s family-friendly business and tourism climates.
In conclusion, the support of both major-party presidential candidates for cannabis reform is a significant step towards federal legalization. With public support for legalization at
