In a bold move just weeks before the 2024 presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris has unveiled a comprehensive plan to federally legalize marijuana as part of her “Opportunity Agenda” aimed at Black men.
This policy proposal marks a significant shift in U.S. drug policy, pledging to work with Congress to ensure that cannabis legalization becomes “the law of the land.” The move is a major part of a larger agenda dubbed “Opportunity Agenda for Black” men released Monday that focuses on ensuring Black Americans, who have historically been disproportionately affected by marijuana criminalization, can access wealth and jobs in the burgeoning cannabis industry.
Other proposals in Harris’ “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men” include offering 1 million “fully forgivable” loans to Black business owners and new federal regulations for cryptocurrency that look to protect investors in the digital currency.”
The news comes after recent comments by Harris hinting at a legalization plan.
““I just think we have come to a point where we have to understand that we need to legalize it and stop criminalizing this behavior,” Harris said during a nearly hourlong interview on the sports and culture podcast “All the Smoke” released in September. “
Harris’s campaign highlighted the disproportionate policing and incarceration rates of Black men for marijuana-related offenses in the Opportunity Agenda. FBI data indicates that although Black Americans make up 13.7% of the U.S. population, they accounted for 29% of marijuana arrests in recent years. Harris has long advocated for reforms in this area, with this new proposal extending to economic opportunities through forgivable loans for Black entrepreneurs and other targeted business support.
Harris vs. Trump on Cannabis
Her proposal contrasts sharply with the previous Trump administration’s stance on cannabis. During his presidency, Donald Trump’s first Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, rescinded Obama-era guidance that allowed states to regulate marijuana without federal interference, creating uncertainty in the cannabis industry. However, Trump has recently shifted his position, showing support for rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III substance and backing Florida’s Proposition 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
Building on Previous Administrations
Harris’ policy reform initiative comes after years of incremental steps taken by both the Obama and Biden administrations. Obama’s administration introduced the Cole Memo, which provided guidelines to prevent federal interference in state-legal cannabis businesses. Biden, while initially more cautious, has pursued rescheduling marijuana and issued federal pardons for non-violent cannabis offenders. However, Harris’s new agenda pushes for full legalization, a move that could secure support from key voting blocs.
The Harris campaign’s focus on marijuana legalization aligns with broader efforts to energize African American voters, especially as polling shows growing support for Trump among Black men. Former President Barack Obama has even weighed in, urging Black men to rally behind Harris, suggesting some resistance may stem from her being a woman.
As Election Day approaches, marijuana reform remains a pivotal issue, with Harris framing it as part of a larger strategy to break down systemic barriers for Black Americans and create equitable opportunities in a maturing cannabis industry.
