Kamala Harris Pledges to Legalize Marijuana Amid Criticism of Past Convictions
10/25/2024
Vice President Kamala Harris is intensifying her efforts to court younger black male voters, pledging to legalize marijuana if she wins the presidency, despite her history of overseeing more than 1,900 marijuana convictions during her tenure as San Francisco district attorney from 2004 to 2011. Harris' past record as a prosecutor has drawn scrutiny, with critics accusing her of hypocrisy given her current platform of marijuana reform.
As Harris prepared for an interview with radio host Charlamagne tha God, she took to social media to highlight her stance on marijuana legalization. “Kamala Harris will legalize recreational marijuana — breaking down unjust barriers that hold black men and other Americans back and making sure black Americans have opportunities to succeed as the marketplace takes shape,” she tweeted. Her statement is part of a broader push to appeal to black men, a demographic that polling shows may be drifting toward former President Donald Trump, particularly in key swing states.
Trump, too, supports marijuana reform, advocating for state-level legalization. Recently, he endorsed Florida’s marijuana legalization ballot initiative and publicly stated his belief that people should not face jail time for using small amounts of marijuana. “I believe it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use,” Trump wrote while encouraging Floridians to vote “yes” on Amendment 3 this November.
This has set the stage for a potential clash on marijuana reform in the 2024 election. Both candidates are positioning themselves as advocates for change, with Harris seeking to connect her platform with black Americans, particularly men. However, her past actions remain a point of contention. Critics also recall her controversial 2019 interview with Charlamagne, in which she claimed to have smoked marijuana in college while listening to Tupac and Snoop Dogg — artists who had not yet released their albums during that time. Harris’ father, Donald Harris, publicly rebuked his daughter’s comments, condemning them as perpetuating negative stereotypes about Jamaicans.
Despite the criticism, Harris’ campaign is leaning into marijuana reform, banking on its popularity. With around two-thirds of Americans supporting marijuana legalization, Harris hopes her platform can overcome lingering doubts about her past prosecutorial record and appeal to voters who view reform as a key issue in the upcoming election.
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As Harris prepared for an interview with radio host Charlamagne tha God, she took to social media to highlight her stance on marijuana legalization. “Kamala Harris will legalize recreational marijuana — breaking down unjust barriers that hold black men and other Americans back and making sure black Americans have opportunities to succeed as the marketplace takes shape,” she tweeted. Her statement is part of a broader push to appeal to black men, a demographic that polling shows may be drifting toward former President Donald Trump, particularly in key swing states.
Trump, too, supports marijuana reform, advocating for state-level legalization. Recently, he endorsed Florida’s marijuana legalization ballot initiative and publicly stated his belief that people should not face jail time for using small amounts of marijuana. “I believe it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use,” Trump wrote while encouraging Floridians to vote “yes” on Amendment 3 this November.
This has set the stage for a potential clash on marijuana reform in the 2024 election. Both candidates are positioning themselves as advocates for change, with Harris seeking to connect her platform with black Americans, particularly men. However, her past actions remain a point of contention. Critics also recall her controversial 2019 interview with Charlamagne, in which she claimed to have smoked marijuana in college while listening to Tupac and Snoop Dogg — artists who had not yet released their albums during that time. Harris’ father, Donald Harris, publicly rebuked his daughter’s comments, condemning them as perpetuating negative stereotypes about Jamaicans.
Despite the criticism, Harris’ campaign is leaning into marijuana reform, banking on its popularity. With around two-thirds of Americans supporting marijuana legalization, Harris hopes her platform can overcome lingering doubts about her past prosecutorial record and appeal to voters who view reform as a key issue in the upcoming election.
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