For the first time in history, the president of the United States will be using part of his State of the Union address to promote marijuana reform. President Joe Biden is expected to speak about reform to marijuana policy in his first time ever mentioning the issue in a State of the Union speech. This marks a significant shift in the political landscape as more states across the country have been legalizing marijuana for both medical and recreational use.
Biden touted his efforts on marijuana, a potentially potent issue for young voters. “No one should be jailed for using or possessing marijuana,” Biden stated, emphasizing the need for criminal justice reform in this area. Cannabis advocates say President Biden is missing an opportunity to sway young voters with his reluctance to take bigger steps to legalize marijuana on a federal level. Many argue that the current patchwork of state laws creates confusion and unfair disparities in enforcement.
Amid swirling rumors about the possibility of an imminent cannabis policy announcement from the White House, a Biden administration official confirmed that discussions are ongoing but no concrete plans have been finalized. Senate Democrats are putting new pressure on the Biden administration to ease federal restrictions on marijuana, urging for more comprehensive and decisive action on the issue.