Harris And Walz Push Pro-Cannabis Agenda In New Democratic Platform For 2024

On Monday, the Democratic National Convention formally approved a 2024 party platform that highlights President Joe Biden's efforts to address marijuana reform, including his historic cannabis pardons and moves to reschedule the it. As Marijuana Moment reported, the platform also emphasizes the need for broader actions, such as expunging prior cannabis-related convictions. However, despite these progressive steps, the new platform is notably less comprehensive in its cannabis reform agenda compared to the 2020 version, which had called for broader decriminalization.

Read Also: Gov. Pritzker Greets Democratic National Convention Delegates, Visitors With Billboard: ‘Illinois Democrats Legalized Marijuana‘

Biden's Cannabis Pardons And Rescheduling Moves Highlighted

As Biden steps aside from the 2024 race, with Vice President Kamala Harris now the Democratic nominee, the platform reflects a continuation of some of the president’s policies, even though Harris has publicly supported full federal legalization – a stance Biden did not adopt. The platform approved on Monday commends Biden's pardons as part of his administration’s commitment to criminal justice reform, stating, "No one should be in prison solely because they use drugs."

The party also criticizes former President Donald Trump for his administration’s past actions that threatened federal prosecution for marijuana cases, even in states where it was legal under state law. The platform contrasts the Biden-Harris approach with Trump’s record, aiming to leverage this difference in the upcoming election.

Despite these forward-looking reforms, the platform has drawn some criticism for its omission of broader cannabis decriminalization and medical marijuana legalization, both of which were key features of the 2020 platform. On the Republican side, Trump's platform does not specifically address marijuana but emphasizes a hardline stance on drug cartels and an anti-drug agenda.

Harris And Walz: The New Democratic Ticket’s Stance On Legalization

As Harris moves forward as the Democratic nominee, she has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, a move that further solidifies the party’s commitment to cannabis reform, given Walz's strong pro-legalization record. This selection, along with the platform's focus on expunging records, positions the Biden-Harris campaign as a pro-reform ticket in contrast to Trump’s more conservative approach to cannabis policy.

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