Vice President Kamala Harris’s opinions on marijuana have changed over time, much like those of many other Americans. Back in 2010, she urged voters to reject a ballot measure that sought to legalize recreational marijuana when she was the district attorney for San Francisco. Her position at the time was in accord with that of a majority of California voters, of whom 54% eventually voted against the initiative.
However, the perspective on marijuana began to change not long after. By 2016, California voters had passed Proposition 64, which legalized cannabis throughout the state. Then, in 2019, as California’s junior senator, Harris cosponsored legislation to lift the federal ban on cannabis. Nearly two-thirds of Americans favored legalizing marijuana, according to a Gallup poll conducted that year, a substantial increase from the 46% of respondents in 2010.
Today, support for cannabis legalization has risen to 70%. Harris has consistently, in her tenure as VP, stated that no American should be imprisoned for using marijuana. She has supported the efforts of the Biden administration to relax some federal marijuana prohibitions and to pardon individuals who have committed minor marijuana infractions.
Harris’s journey from a skeptic to a supporter of legalization reflects a broader shift among Americans. As with many voters, her opinions changed as medical marijuana gained greater traction. While serving as San Francisco’s district attorney, Harris vowed not to prosecute individuals using or selling medical cannabis.
The move toward full cannabis legalization gained momentum in 2012 when voters in Washington and Colorado became the first states to pass recreational cannabis regulations. By 2016, the number of states where marijuana was legal had grown to nine. Currently, 24 states have legalized cannabis.
Living in a state where marijuana is legalized probably helped Harris change from being a fierce opponent to a supporter. This pattern is evident in other states, such as Colorado, where voter support for legalization has increased since the laws were first enacted. No state has revoked its cannabis legalization laws, as these policies have generally met the expectations of voters and lawmakers and are seen as better alternatives to criminalization.
Despite the shift in public opinion, federal cannabis policies have remained largely unchanged. Many politicians in Congress still hold outdated views on cannabis, reminiscent of the Reefer Madness era, which most voters have long rejected. These lawmakers need to update their views to align with current scientific understanding and public opinion, much as Harris did. Those who fail to adapt risk falling out of step with their constituents.
That Harris has brought the debate on marijuana legalization to the highest level of elected leadership in the United States is a welcome happening for cannabis companies such as TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND) (OTCQX: TSNDF) because it will bring the subject of drug-policy reform to the center of public discourse, at least during the election cycle and possibly beyond.
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