Kamala Harris Pushes for Cannabis Reform: What's Next for Legalization?

With Joe Biden out of the presidential race and Kamala Harris likely in, we analyze what's next for cannabis legalization. The sight of Vice President Kamala Harris urging the reform of cannabis laws Friday in the White House will prompt a lot of eye rolls from those who remember her tough-on-crime past as a prosecutor. However, Harris has been vocal about her support for cannabis reform in recent years, signaling a potential shift in federal policy under the Biden-Harris administration.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is touting President Joe Biden's marijuana pardons and rescheduling moves, while calling for broader legalization efforts. Vice President Kamala Harris said Friday that it is “absurd” and “patently unfair” that marijuana is treated the same as heroin and other dangerous drugs under federal law. She emphasized the need for a more sensible and equitable approach to cannabis regulation.

Harris also criticized the federal government for classifying marijuana as more dangerous than fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid responsible for thousands of overdose deaths each year. The March 15 closed-door White House roundtable discussion on criminal justice reform—specifically focused on cannabis policy—left many wondering what concrete actions the Biden-Harris administration will take to address the issue.

The message Harris delivered was simple: the Biden administration believes that “no one should be jailed for simply using” marijuana. But Harris acknowledged that there is still work to be done to ensure that individuals with prior cannabis convictions are not unfairly targeted or excluded from legal cannabis markets. Vice President Kamala Harris called the current classification of marijuana under federal law “absurd” during a White House event on Friday, signaling a shift in the administration's approach to drug policy.

Vice President Kamala Harris will hold the administration's first public event on marijuana reform this week after President Joe Biden's recent executive actions on cannabis. The event is expected to focus on the need for comprehensive cannabis reform at the federal level, including criminal justice reform, social equity initiatives, and public health considerations. As the Biden-Harris administration continues to prioritize cannabis reform, advocates are hopeful that meaningful change is on the horizon.