Biden-Challenger Marianne Williamson Blasts White House, Congress Over Sluggish Cannabis Reform

Marianne Williamson, a 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, openly criticized the Joe Biden administration and Congress for their sluggish approach to marijuana reform, labeling it as hypocritical given the alleged private drug use by lawmakers. 

During a New Hampshire campaign event, Williamson reaffirmed her commitment to legalizing marijuana and psychedelic therapy, reported Marijuana Moment’s Kyle Jaeger. 

Williamson expressed frustration over the protracted review process initiated by President Biden for reclassifying marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. 

Lobbyist Don Murphy from the Marijuana Leadership Campaign asked Williamson her opinion of the recommendation by the Department of Health and Human Services to the DEA to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. 

“One of the first things I would do is deschedule marijuana. It is ridiculous. Deschedule it—not only let everyone out of a prison who was there on marijuana-related charges but also expunge those records,” she replied. “That’s my plan.

Read also: DEA's Cannabis Classification: Time To Right A Decades-Old Mistake As Feds Confirm Marijuana's Medical Benefits

The candidate criticized the extensive review process, sarcastically commenting on a 200-page document recently released by the HHS.

“Oh, there’s a 200-page document [from HHS] saying we’ve been lied to about marijuana. Can you believe it?'” she said. “How long do you think it’s going to take? Isn’t that interesting?” Williamson said. “Let me tell you what you have with me: a freaking signature of the president of the United States.”

Williamson’s agenda stands out among other presidential candidates. Her drug policy includes decriminalization of cannabis as a first step, followed by a structured plan toward legalization and partnering with harm reduction strategies.

She also addressed racial disparities in drug criminalization, saying the current policy is laden with injustices. 

“The War on Drugs has completely failed to alleviate the problem it supposedly set out to solve,” she said last month. “It has only created more problems, fueling mass incarceration and violence at home and abroad.”

Read more at Marijuana Moment

Marianne Williamson. Photo via Shutterstock