Trump or Harris? On Monday, September 30, Kamala Harris confirmed what we’ve known all along: she supports nationwide marijuana legalization.
Last month Donald Trump announced that he will vote for Amendment 3, the ballot to legalize marijuana in Florida. He’s making an obvious attempt to bring young voters into his camp. Neither of the two major party candidates care about the message that legalizing marijuana sends to our kids. Our response is similar to what Pope Francis said of the candidates: “Choose the lesser evil.”
When running for the presidency in 2019 and 2020, Kamala Harris supported legalizing marijuana. During her first three years as vice president, she was forced to pivot towards President Biden’s position against legalization.
President Joe Biden went no further than suggesting rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. (A hearing on this issue will take place in December, after the election.) Although pot advocates predicted nationwide legalization by 2020, it never happened, and many states rejected votes to legalize.
It’s interesting that both Trump and Harris support it for the same dubious reason that ‘no on should go to jail for marijuana.’ (In Florida, no one is in jail for simple possession of less than 20 ounces, as in most states.)
If that is what they truly believe, decriminalization is a better choice than legalization, a universally failed policy!
A national poll in 2022 from Emerson College found that only 38% of Americans prefer full legalization, with the remaining 62% majority favoring decriminalization of marijuana, or continued prohibition
Many Florida Politicians Stand Against Legalization
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, a Democrat, wrote a powerful opinion against Amendment 3 in The Miami Herald. Shalala is also a Florida resident, a former member of Congress, former college president. Another Democrat against Florida’s Amendment 3 is former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, a mental health advocate, and powerful spokesperson.
Republican Senator Rick Scott announced his opposition early. He believes marijuana was the “gateway drug” which contributed to his brother’s addiction problem and death. Governor Ron DeSantis and the state Republican Party oppose legalization. DeSantis has been outspoken in his opposition, saying it will ruin the quality of life.
The primary backers of Amendment 3 are Trulieve, which spent more than $92 million to legalize this drug, and other marijuana companies. According to Ballotpedia, it’s the most expensive ballot ever, with legalizers contributing more than $100 million and opponents donating $20 million against it.
When you permit it, you promote it
In 2016, two years after Colorado legalized pot, Colorado had the highest rate of pot use for those ages 12-17. After legalization, parent-led educational coalitions started working overtime. One Chance to Grow Up, Every Brain Matters, Parents Opposed to Pot and Johnny’s Ambassadors formed to educate teens against pot use. A better option would have been state governments to support us, not work against us.
When cannabis is legalized, parents face the challenge of how to warn of the mental health dangers inherent to this drug. Most states don’t warn users. Nor do they assure that it won’t get into the hands of those whose brains are still developing. Every state limits purchases to age 21 and over. But, as in the case of alcohol, this restriction doesn’t prevent young from getting into marijuana. Youth use dabs and vapes in greater percentages than adults.
While our groups make some difference, we need governments to listen to the concerns of families with children.
Kamala Harris’s very mixed record
Although Kamala Harris supports nationwide legalization, she was accused of prosecuting marijuana users during her tenure as San Francisco district attorney.
In 2010, when she ran for California Attorney General, Harris didn’t endorse the marijuana legalization ballot that year, nor did any major politician. She narrowly won her race against Steve Cooley who prosecuted illegal marijuana dealers in Los Angeles and closed down many pot shops. The Weed Blog, an online publication, later commented that the industry supported her, as she had promised not to prosecute marijuana growers.
In 2014, Kamala Harris’s office was responsible for writing ballot language for Proposition 47, which downgraded many drug-related crimes. Voters approved the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, but its title deliberately misled voters. Its principal effects were decriminalizing theft under $950 and turning many felonies into misdemeanors. This year voters stand to overturn much of the act with Proposition 36, a ballot supported by many Democrats and Republicans,
While all politicians change positions, few blow with the wind as easily as Kamala Harris. When it’s advantageous to be “tough on crime,” she goes in that direction but then turns 180 degrees in the opposite direction.
The Trump Paradox
Candidates think that supporting legalization can motivate young adults and those who usually don’t vote. This time, however, it probably won’t make much of a difference. Both candidates are bad news!
While Donald Trump told his children to never smoke, drink, or do drugs, we wonder why he doesn’t suggest this formula to others. It’s hard to predict what Trump may do in another administration.
Cannabis is particularly damaging for those who begin young and use the high-potency varieties most common today. Every drug has its unique dangers. Ed Gogek, author of Marijuana Debunked, explained that marijuana is the most damaging drug in terms of what it does to young brains.
Here’s how former HHS Secretary Shalala put it: “With legalization, marijuana’s potency has skyrocketed to upwards of 99% THC. My greatest concern is marijuana’s effects on the developing brains of young people Landmark studies have demonstrated that marijuana is associated with psychosis, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, worsening PTSD symptoms and even suicidality.
“Today’s marijuana has an addiction rate of 30%, far higher than the 9% addiction rate of just a decade ago. Legalization increases the prevalence of marijuana addiction among youth to an even greater degree.”
We hope Floridians listen to the former cabinet secretary, former Congressman Kennedy and their governor. Let’s cut our losses now, by not allowing more young people fall for this predatory pro-drug industry. Widespread marijuana pardons and Virginia’s solution prove that criminal justice reforms can occur without legalizing pot.