The Transformation of Harris’s Cannabis Perspective

Like Most Americans, Vice President Kamala Harris Has Evolved on Cannabis

In 2010, when Kamala Harris served as San Francisco’s district attorney, she stood firmly against a proposed ballot initiative to legalize adult-use marijuana. Her position mirrored that of most California voters at the time, with 54 percent ultimately voting against the measure. However, as societal views on marijuana evolved, so did Harris’s stance.

Initial Opposition to Cannabis Legalization

Harris’s early opposition to marijuana legalization was in line with the majority of California voters in 2010. At that time, the proposed initiative to legalize adult-use marijuana was rejected by 54 percent of voters. Harris, then the district attorney of San Francisco, urged voters to reject the measure, reflecting the prevailing attitudes towards cannabis.

Shift in Public Opinion

Following the failed 2010 initiative, public opinion on marijuana began to shift. By 2016, Californians had reversed their earlier decision and passed Proposition 64, legalizing marijuana statewide. This shift was part of a broader national trend towards supporting cannabis legalization.

Harris’s Evolving Stance

In 2019, Harris, then serving as California’s junior U.S. senator, sponsored legislation aimed at ending the federal prohibition of cannabis. This marked a significant change in her stance and aligned with the growing support for marijuana legalization among Americans. That year, a Gallup poll found that two-thirds of Americans supported legalizing marijuana, up from 46 percent in 2010.

Current Public Support for Legalization

Today, support for cannabis legalization stands at an all-time high of 70 percent. As vice president, Harris has consistently voiced her belief that Americans should not face incarceration for marijuana use. She has been a vocal supporter of the Biden administration’s efforts to pardon low-level marijuana offenders and to ease certain federal cannabis restrictions.

Pioneering Advocacy as Vice President

As the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Harris is the first major party candidate to advocate for the legalization and regulation of marijuana. Her journey from a skeptic to a proponent of legalization mirrors the evolving attitudes of many Americans.

Influence of Medical Cannabis

Harris’s views on cannabis began to soften after the legalization of medical marijuana. As San Francisco’s district attorney, she pledged not to prosecute individuals who used or sold medical cannabis, a stance influenced by personal experiences. “In my own life, I have had loved ones and close friends who relied on medical marijuana to relieve their suffering and even prolong their lives,” Harris acknowledged.

Nationwide Medical Cannabis Approval

Between 1996 and 2011, nearly 20 states approved medical cannabis access, mostly through voter initiatives. This widespread acceptance of medical marijuana set the stage for broader legalization efforts.

Path to Legalization

It was not until 2012 that voters approved measures for outright legalization, with Colorado and Washington becoming the first states to regulate the adult-use cannabis market. By 2016, the number of states with legal marijuana had increased to nine. Today, 24 states — home to more than half of the U.S. population — have legalized marijuana.

Impact of State-Level Legalization

The real-world impact of state-level marijuana legalization has been significant. For Harris, living in a state with legal marijuana likely influenced her transformation from critic to advocate. This pattern has been observed in other states like California and Colorado, where a greater percentage of voters support legalization now compared to when the laws were first enacted.

Success of Legalization Policies

No state has ever repealed its marijuana legalization laws, indicating the success of these policies in achieving their intended goals. State-level legalization has led to a substantial reduction in low-level marijuana arrests and prosecutions, disrupted the illicit market, and created over 400,000 full-time jobs. Taxes from regulated cannabis sales have generated over $20 billion in state revenue. Importantly, fears that legalization would increase cannabis use among young people have not materialized.

Federal Policies Lag Behind

Despite the shift in public opinion, federal marijuana policies have largely remained unchanged. Many members of Congress still cling to outdated “Reefer Madness” views, failing to align with current scientific and public consensus. These politicians, like Harris before them, need to evolve their perspectives on cannabis. Those who do not risk falling out of touch with the electorate, potentially to their own political detriment.