70% of Individuals say YES to Authorized Hashish
If there’s one factor we will all agree on as Individuals, it’s that we wish hashish legalized. I imply severely, 70% of Individuals help hashish legalization. However who among the many present 2024 presidential candidates is the probably to assist us obtain our purpose?
For my part, the selection is evident. Maintain studying to search out out why.
Marijuana reform report card
| Candidate | Convictions | Schedule | Regulation | Our Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marianne Williamson (D) | Expunge all Federal drug convictions | Fully deschedule | Full, authorized regulation | A+ |
| Joe Biden (D) | Pardoned some Federal marijuana convictions | Really useful reschedule to Schedule III | State-level regulation | C- |
| Cornel West (I) | Finish mass incarceration | Unclear | Unclear | C+ |
| Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (I) | Not addressed | Unclear | Federally legalize | D |
| Donald Trump (R) | Double down on the Warfare on Medicine (together with the demise penalty for cartel members) | Keep Schedule I | Diminished protections for states regulating marijuana | F |
| Ron Desantis (R) | Is not going to decriminalize | Keep Schedule I | State-level regulation | F |
A extra in-depth take a look at hashish reform stances
Democratic candidates
Marianne Williamson
In my very humble opinion, Marianne is the clear alternative on this (and each) difficulty. Her total coverage platform is centered round figuring out and therapeutic the basis causes of the issues that plague our nation. A Williamson administration seeks to convey an finish to the Warfare on Medicine and the overdose disaster by means of 4 core pillars: ending prohibition, hurt discount, dependancy remedy and restoration, and giving Individuals higher lives general.
The 1st step is legalizing hashish and psilocybin (and supporting analysis into their makes use of). Subsequent is increase hurt discount and dependancy remedy infrastructure earlier than decriminalizing different medicine, in the end constructing a framework for full, authorized regulation. Marianne understands that dependancy is a symptom of a deeper despair felt throughout our nation. For that reason, an Financial Invoice of Rights is integral to an answer that addresses the basis of the problem, not simply the signs.
Marianne’s drug coverage is by far the best choice accessible to us. Most media retailers would have you ever consider Marianne doesn’t even exist, or that her marketing campaign is an extended shot. In actuality, she has essentially the most thorough coverage platform of any candidate within the race and he or she continues to rise within the polls. I consider in voting for what we deserve, not what we’re advised we will moderately anticipate. So consider me once I say, Marianne is the one candidate I can get behind.
Joe Biden
It’s exhausting to resolve what’s extra insulting: the truth that the DNC has all however determined that Biden is our solely possibility for the presidential nomination, or his marketing campaign web site options completely zero data on his coverage platform (actually, simply SHOP and DONATE). That mentioned, I feel it finest we simply check out his monitor file to attract a conclusion right here.
Again in October 2022, Biden issued pardons for these convicted of federal marijuana prices (though there have been tight restrictions on who was eligible). Regardless of noting the discrimination folks with Federal convictions face, he failed to say that pardoned convictions stay on file–solely expungement fully removes them.
He additionally requested for hashish to be rescheduled from Schedule I to Schedule III. Whereas rescheduling hashish will surely enhance accessibility, it fails to rectify the rampant racial injustices caused on account of classifying marijuana as a managed substance. Decriminalization is the one technique to really guarantee these injustices don’t proceed, and Biden’s failure to observe by means of on his promise to take action is telling.
Unbiased candidates
Cornel West
Cornel West doesn’t strike me as an electable candidate. Most Individuals know the probability of an unbiased candidate truly successful a serious election just like the presidency is already slim to none. Add in the truth that West has already jumped from two smaller events earlier than deciding to run as an unbiased comes throughout as flaky at finest.
That mentioned, I do have to offer West props for calling out Biden for his integral function in sponsoring laws within the 90’s that pumped cash into prisons and the police, and undoubtedly contributed to mass incarceration. This information makes Biden’s weak actions to rectify these injustices all of the extra troubling.
In keeping with his marketing campaign platform, West desires to finish the battle on medicine, finish mass incarceration, and abolish poverty and homelessness. Whereas I agree that we have to do all of these items, West doesn’t go into actually any element on what particular steps he’ll take to attain these lofty objectives. .
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Though he began out making a bid for the Democratic nomination, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made the choice to run as an Unbiased. Regardless of this, he’s nonetheless doing concerningly properly within the polls. Matched up in opposition to Trump and Biden, Kennedy was in a position to pull 22% from either side of the aisle.
Kennedy’s plan is to federally legalize and decriminalize marijuana, however depart regulation as much as the states. A federal tax on hashish gross sales would fund dependancy restoration applications. The restoration facilities would middle on folks studying natural farming and reconnecting with nature.
On prime of failing to deal with the basis reason behind dependancy, Kennedy doesn’t even tackle how racial injustices play into this. Failure to deal with race is greater than an oversight. Kennedy’s shut ties with alt-right Christian nationalist extremists makes any considerably satisfactory coverage platform reek of deceit.
Republican candidates
Donald Trump
Why we’re nonetheless contemplating this man as a official candidate is past me, contemplating his a number of prison indictments and convictions since leaving workplace in 2020 (and you recognize, actually all the pieces else). However, Trump continues to be polling far greater than any of the opposite Republican main candidates, so I’m pressured out of a dedication to truthful and trustworthy election protection to contemplate his stance.
It ought to come as no shock that Trump doesn’t have a lot of a stance in any respect. He’s all over with what he says, and there’s really no telling how issues would play out had been he to regain workplace. He rambles on about research that declare medical marijuana is doing extra hurt than good, even going as far as to recommend mass shootings are attributable to genetically engineered weed. I don’t find out about you, however I’d prefer to see the supply for that one.
At this level, I feel everyone knows Trump’s phrases aren’t one thing you possibly can depend on, so let’s check out what he’s truly accomplished. Throughout the 2016 presidential race, Trump claimed help for the states’ rights to manage marijuana as they see match. As soon as in workplace, the actions of his administration advised a unique story. Not solely did Trump uphold federal marijuana prohibition, however truly chipped away at states’ rights by eradicating protections for state medical marijuana legal guidelines.
Ron DeSantis
The following runner up among the many Republicans poses the danger of being much more catastrophic than Trump. Ron DeSantis determined that wreaking havoc on the great folks of Florida for the previous 4 years wasn’t sufficient. The pure subsequent step was to place in his bid for the presidential nomination, so he might terrorize the remainder of us too. His marketing campaign facilities round “restoring” the most important navy on the earth by far, defending the fossil gasoline business, and actively working in opposition to lengthy overdue local weather actions.
He’s vehemently against legalizing leisure marijuana, having harped many occasions about that “disgusting” odor everyone knows and love. Regardless of acknowledging that hashish can have medicinal advantages, he has clearly said that even decriminalization isn’t on the desk had been he to grow to be president.
His reasoning? It impedes our “workforce readiness” which suggests to me that his beliefs are in step with the established order–we the persons are merely instruments put right here to make the elite even richer. Plus, I do know many purposeful stoners who would argue {that a} good wake & bake can increase your temper and creativity to advertise a productive, harmonious day’s work.
Steadily requested questions
What are main elections?
Political events use main elections to find out who their presidential nominee will likely be. They’re hosted on the state-level and it’s as much as the state’s discretion how and when main elections happen. Some states even place the duty on the political events themselves to host their very own main elections.
When do 2024 primaries begin?
Presidential main election season begins in February 2024 for early states. As they differ by state, test 2024 State Major Election Dates by in search of your state on this record.
How do I register to vote?
To vote in a main election, you’ll must be registered to vote in your state. Go to vote.gov to search out out when and learn how to register.
Weed is authorized in my state, so why ought to I care?
For those who’re dwelling in one of many states the place marijuana is already authorized, it could not really feel prefer it issues a lot the place a candidate stands on this difficulty. In most states the place marijuana has been legalized, there are nonetheless folks in jail attributable to marijuana convictions. Even those that have been launched should have these convictions on their file, which might result in discrimination in housing and employment. A candidate’s stance on hashish reform ought to take these folks’s lives into consideration, and make it a degree to set proper the injustices they’ve confronted.
What’s the battle on medicine?
The Warfare on Medicine started in 1970 when Richard Nixon signed the Managed Substances Act into impact. Medicine had been categorized into one among 5 “schedules.” Regardless of a complete lack of proof, marijuana was labeled as Schedule I, thought-about to be the medicine with the best potential for dependancy and no acknowledged medical makes use of. Just a few years later, Nixon created the Drug Enforcement Company to implement his insurance policies.
Within the 80s, Nixon handed the torch to Ronald Reagan, who launched necessary minimal sentences for drug offenses. This pressured judges all throughout the nation to incarcerate folks merely for utilizing medicine. Not solely this, however the penalties for medicine generally utilized by folks of colour had been actually 100 occasions stronger than these for medicine utilized by white folks.
These insurance policies paved the way in which for mass incarceration of communities of colour. Even as soon as they’re launched, these with drug convictions can legally be discriminated in opposition to when in search of employment, housing, and even meals stamps. As an alternative of constructing our nation more healthy and safer (as was promised), the Warfare on Medicine has merely created much more distress.
Conclusion
There’s little doubt that the 2024 presidential election will likely be a pivotal second in our nation’s historical past. Who you select to vote for is a vital choice that shouldn’t be made frivolously. Whereas there are a lot of points to contemplate, I do know that federal marijuana reform is a vital one for many people. Hashish reform is a important part required to heal our nation. It’s about a lot greater than the plant–hashish reform is about rectifying racial injustices, enhancing well being care, and giving all Individuals a greater high quality of life. My recommendation to you? Vote for the longer term you suppose we deserve.
