ECNETNews, New York, NY, August 5, 2024: Vice President Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, is redefining her relationship with marijuana amid changing societal attitudes. Making headlines in 2019 during her presidential campaign, Harris humorously acknowledged her own past marijuana use in a radio interview, quipping, “Half my family’s from Jamaica. Are you kidding me?”
Harris recounted her college experience with marijuana, playfully referencing former President Bill Clinton’s famous admission by stating, “And I inhaled.” However, this comment sparked disappointment in her Jamaican family, particularly from her father, Professor Donald J. Harris, who issued a statement expressing displeasure with the stereotypes tied to their heritage.
Despite initial opposition—she had backed medical marijuana but voted against a 2010 measure to legalize recreational use—Harris’ stance has notably evolved. As San Francisco’s District Attorney, she oversaw over 1,900 marijuana convictions, though many involved neither incarceration nor low-level possession charges.
As California’s Attorney General, she led the charge resulting in over 2,000 incarcerations for marijuana offenses but was cautious about her stance on legalization during her 2014 reelection campaign. This perspective shifted dramatically upon becoming a U.S. Senator, where she championed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. This landmark legislation seeks to federalize decriminalization, tax cannabis, and support communities harmed by previous marijuana laws. “Times have changed – marijuana should not be a crime,” Harris emphasized.
As Vice President, Harris has further advocated for cannabis reform, backing Biden’s pardons for federal marijuana possession offenses and supporting efforts to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Notably, during a recent interview, Harris engaged in humor regarding a fictional marijuana strain called “Kamala Kush.”
Prominent marijuana reform advocates, including Morgan Fox from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), have lauded Harris for her efforts to end cannabis prohibition and rectify its social injustices.
In 2022, President Biden initiated a review of marijuana’s classification status, leading to Harris’s calls for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Justice Department to expedite this process. Harris criticized the current classification of marijuana as more dangerous than fentanyl, stating, “Nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed.”
The Justice Department’s recent proposal to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act signifies a crucial turning point in federal marijuana policy. This change could reflect marijuana’s diminished potential for abuse and allow it to be legally prescribed.
As Harris continues her political journey, her shifting viewpoint on marijuana illustrates a broader transformation in public perception and highlights her dedication to updating outdated laws. Advocacy groups anticipate that if Harris were to assume the presidency, she would prioritize advancing the reclassification of marijuana by HHS and the Justice Department.
