Kamala Harris Calls For Marijuana To Be Rescheduled 'As Quickly As Possible'
Kamala Harris Calls For Marijuana To Be Rescheduled 'As Quickly As Possible'
“No one should go to jail for smoking weed,” the vice president said.
Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday called on the federal government to move “as quickly as possible” to change the way it officially classifies marijuana, saying that “nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed.”
“I cannot emphasize enough that they need to get to it as quickly as possible,” Harris said. “We need to have a resolution based on their findings and their assessment. This issue is stark when one considers the fact that on the schedule currently, marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin ― as dangerous as heroin ― and more dangerous than fentanyl, which is absurd, not to mention patently unfair.”
Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule 1 drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration. That classification designates it one of the most dangerous drugs possible, with no medicinal uses. Other substances in the same category include heroin, ecstasy and LSD. Marijuana advocates have been pushing for years for the federal government to either reschedule marijuana to a different category or deschedule it entirely.
Harris oversaw more than 1,900 marijuana convictions in San Francisco, previously unreported records from the DA’s office show. Her prosecutors appear to have convicted people on marijuana charges at a higher rate than under her predecessor, based on data about marijuana arrests in the city.
As the political winds blow with her I guess. At least it's a positive change.
For the, "why are you doing it now, convenient!" crowd - first of all yes, that's how politics works. Trump is a constant heartbeat of bullshit and you need to have strategically timed news and events to stay in people's short term memories for voting impact - especially the committed stoners :)
But also, Biden admin has been working towards this for years. He is not the most progressive anything, but he's doing more than his predecessors on either side (and the pathetic gop alternative) and that's progress.
You don't make major legislative change by firing a cannon at the front door - you set several small fires at all the other exits on the building and then when all that is in motion, you just knock on the front door to warn everyone about the fire and they walk out willingly.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/06/politics/marijuana-decriminalization-white-house-joe-biden/index.html
https://www.npr.org/2023/12/22/1221230390/biden-pardons-clemency-marijuana-drug-offenses
On December 2, 2022, Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act - "the first standalone marijuana-related bill approved by both chambers of the United States Congress"
Biden approved the Viktor Bout–Brittney Griner prisoner exchange work Russia on December 8, 2022 which involved an American WNBA athlete being convicted of cannabis possession on Russian soil and being held in Russian prison.
You know, this is a pretty smart way to approach the political side of this tactically.
Biden can't say deschedule it outright without offending at least some borderline fence sitters and the elder crowd indoctrinated with the old propaganda that made it out to be among the most terrible things.
By having the younger VP who wouldn't really have direct authority to have it changed but is directly I'm the same circles, it gets the idea out there as a 'very strong unofficial stance'.
Next step, the 'cool grandpa' moment when Biden gets to make a gesture for the younger crowd by having it pulled from the schedules. Financially the feds have undoubtedly been eyeing the income (and lack of incarceration costs) brought into states with legal sales for a while and would like a piece of it too.
I grew up straight edge in a religious household. I was so afraid of getting into trouble, I didn't even drink as a teenager even though all my friends did.
Now my work depends on me keeping away from illegal drugs. Seeing as my family's livelihood depends on that, it's a pretty straightforward decision to never cross that line, ever. So I say this as a 30+ yr old who's rarely drank and never done drugs of any kind that weren't prescribed.
If this changes, and it's confirmed that my livelihood wouldn't be threatened for trying it, I would absolutely partake.
Just so everyone knows, the DEA is actively reviewing a report from the Department of Health and Human services where they recommended to reschedule weed to a schedule 3. Biden had directed HHS to research to see if it should be rescheduled, so while biden hasn't unilaterally legalized weed (something that would quickly be challenged in court since presidents don't usually have unilateral power for most things), he has definitely been pushing it not be schedule 1. Which, while not legalization, would be a huge step for not just the industry but for all the medical patients out there who have had their doctors refuse to treat them because they use weed for pain.
I barely touched weed my whole life until I got medical access ~5 years ago. I was also never a big drinker or user of other recreational substances.
The stuff helps me so much that I use my vape or edibles almost every single day. That plus the margin of safety makes it downright cruel in my eyes that it’s prohibited in so many places.
But I guess given the racist motives of the anti-marijuana push 40 years ago, maybe the cruelty was the point.
I'm glad they want to change that. I hope they do. Far too many people, especially minorities, serving sentences for weed. It does feel like a bit of a hollow victory when women's rights are being rolled back to the 19th century, though.
Kamala Harris promised to reschedule it right the following day after Biden has won the presidential elections. She added, "and if you don't like the idea of marijuana being rescheduled", and loudly winked three times.
Well I don't do drugs but she could schedule it for tomorrow after breakfast. I know my neighbor smokes it after work for example. 😂.
I think if Biden and Harris were to officially endorse decriminalizing or legalizing recreational marijuana, we'd see a Democrat landslide. But that would require some actual common sense from Congressmen.
Oh wow, you maybe might possibly might think about trying to potential maybe do something. And just in time when you need support, how coincidental. End the drug war. Give us healthcare. Provide education and forgive the previous loans taken in order to do so. Fucking do something.
And yet beer is more dangerous than weed
“Quick, our ‘blood for the blood god but we’re sad in public’ approach isn’t working on the youth vote - what do my fellow kids want?”
Multiple Democratic supermajorities, several unified governments, and a president who admitted to being a past user. It’s not a priority for the DNC, even as the general population (including the right) year by year more and more wants legalization.
Until big ag and big pharmaceutical want it, it will remain illegal
This being published at the Huff Post is quite hilarious.
She’s correct. It’s a completely right ridiculous policy based on a century of racism.
Ok, I used smoke a power of weed. I do not anymore. I do not wish to partake at all to be honest. Yet I think criminalisation of ‘the culture’ makes it both more lucrative to criminal elements who also do much harm in other sectors, and make it even more attractive to youth who might try and quit it sooner.
I’m not saying it’s all bad. I’m saying it’s over-romanced by criminalisation.
In a single motion they could cut off an enormous source of cash for the traffickers and hard drug dealers.
https://www.propublica.org/article/chinese-organized-crime-us-marijuana-market
Can’t wait to pick between blue maga, red maga, and an actual candidate..
I know I am fully opposed to weed being scheduled at all, and would appreciate the, albeit slow progress. But...
$10 says she has a drug test coming up
Every four years it seems. Language has gotten stronger though lately. Hoping they can pull it off with a strong showing this time around.
Smartest thing she ever said.