Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed for the first time as the Democratic presidential nominee that she wants to legalize marijuana.
Harris spoke about her latest position on legalizing marijuana in an interview with the All the Smoke podcast hosted by former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.
I just think we have come to a point where we have to understand that we need to legalize it and stop criminalizing this behavior, Harris said, after repeating her belief that no one should be in jail for smoking weed.
Harris has taken a number of different positions on marijuana throughout her career.
As a District Attorney of San Francisco, Harris prosecuted more than 1,900 marijuana convictions.
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has evolved even further on legalizing marijuana
When she was running for Attorney General of California, Harris opposed a 2010 California ballot proposition that would legalize recreational use of the drug for adults.
As she was seeking reelection as Attorney General in 2014, Harris refused to take a position on legalizing marijuana, laughing off reporters questions about the subject.
Just weeks after she was reelected, Harris said that legalizing marijuana was inevitable, even though she said it would be irresponsible for her to say so as the top cop in California.
I don’t have any moral opposition to it or anything like that. Half my family’s from Jamaica, she said with a laugh.
When Harris was elected as a U.S. Senator for California, she officially signed on a Senate bill in 2018 to federally legalize marijuana.
Kamala Harris speaks about marijuana during an interview with the All the Smoke podcast
Harris continued during her failed 2020 presidential campaign to promote the legalization of marijuana.
Listen, I think it gives a lot of people joy. And we need more joy, she said in an interview with Charlemagne the God on The Breakfast Club.
She celebrated her use of marijuana in college.
I have. And I inhaled. I did inhale, she said, admitting to smoking a joint.
It was a long time ago, but yes, she added
After Harris was selected as Joe Bidens running mate, Harris position on legalization was more nuanced, as she had mostly settled with Bidens idea of decriminalizing marijuana.
I think it is good that he is in that place of understanding that, at the very least, it should not be a criminal matter, she told reporters in July 2020 when asked about Bidens position on the issue.
Harris made a push for decriminalization in early 2024, repeating her slogan at public events and in interviews that no one should go to jail for smoking weed.
Harris hosted rapper Fat Joe at the White House in February for an event to talk about the problem of incarcerating marijuana users.
Marijuana activists remain critical of Harris, who finally endorsed the idea of legal marijuana but has never apologized for her history of enforcing the law and oppose legalization efforts.
She absolutely has no moral authority to speak on this issue whatsoever, marijuana legal reform advocate Steve DeAngelo told the DailyMail.com.
Harris now laughs about the issue when she is asked about it, including when she was informed of a new strain of marijuana named Kamala Kush by late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
Really? Seriously? I did not know that, she replied, laughing.
Alibi Cannabis in Oregon lists the variety as earthy and grounding and contains a unique flavor for an active high.
Kamala Harris appeared surprised to learn that a marijuana variety had been named after her
Im not touching that, she replied laughing.
There was a time people would say, marijuana is a gateway drug, Harris continued. These are failed policies, right?
The resources should be better directed and will be better directed to deal with opioid addiction and what we need to do around fentanyl, she said.
Getting more resources into mental health and mental health care, right? Thats a smarter way.