{"id":76597,"date":"2024-06-26T10:28:43","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T18:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2024\/06\/26\/biden-vs-trump-on-marijuana-where-the-candidates-stand-heading-into-the-2024-election\/"},"modified":"2024-06-26T18:45:50","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T02:45:50","slug":"biden-vs-trump-on-marijuana-where-the-candidates-stand-heading-into-the-2024-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2024\/06\/26\/biden-vs-trump-on-marijuana-where-the-candidates-stand-heading-into-the-2024-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden Vs. Trump On Marijuana: Where The Candidates Stand Heading Into The 2024 Election"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

As Election Day approaches, drug policy has again emerged as a key campaign issue for incumbent President Joe Biden<\/a> and former President Donald Trump<\/a>\u2014with each candidate\u2019s policy positions around marijuana coming back into focus.<\/p>\n

Biden\u2019s campaign is hoping to leverage the popularity of cannabis reform, highlighting his mass pardons and scheduling review directive that has led the Justice Department to recommend moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III<\/a> of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). That said, his ongoing opposition to broader legalization and his well-established history as a drug warrior in the Senate may again come into play for voters.<\/p>\n

How Trump will navigate the issue is less certain, though he\u2019s generally indicated over the past year that he intends to position himself as an anti-drug candidate, proposing extreme policies such as giving the death penalty to people who sell illegal drugs<\/a>. His record on cannabis specifically is mixed, however, and he\u2019s been known to vacillate on various positions, depending on when he\u2019s asked about the issue.<\/p>\n

As the presidential rematch heats up, it\u2019s likely the candidates will be pressed once again on cannabis, warranting a revisitation of their records.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a review of drug policy actions taken by Biden and Trump as president:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Biden<\/h3>\n

Since taking office, Biden has issued two rounds of mass marijuana pardons, granting formal forgiveness to thousands of people who\u2019ve committed low-level cannabis offenses. The action is largely symbolic, and the president has faced criticism from advocates over his prior exaggerated claims about the practical impact of the reform, as well as the fact that certain people (e.g. immigrants and people with non-violent marijuana sales convictions) were excluded from the relief.<\/p>\n

Biden finally recognized that the pardons he issued did not expunge prior records<\/a> in May after previously falsely claiming they did. The administration did facilitate a process to give pardon recipients a Justice Department certification to document it, but those records are still accessible and could theoretically affect eligibility for employment and housing, for example. As congressional researchers have pointed out, however, the president does not have authority to unilaterally seal federal records.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one should be in jail merely for using or possessing marijuana\u201d has become a common talking point for the president. In a historic move, he even made that point during his 2024 State of the Union address<\/a>, indicating that he recognizes the popularity of the issue and the political benefits of associating himself with reform in the run-up to the election.<\/p>\n

But Biden remains out of step with the majority of voters\u2014particularly those in his own party\u2013when it comes to broader legalization. And while he directed a review into cannabis scheduling that resulted in a Schedule III reclassification proposal, that would not federally legalize marijuana. It would, however, remove certain research barriers and free up state-licensed cannabis businesses to take federal tax deductions.<\/p>\n

Biden also signed a bill into law in late 2023 that was meant to streamline marijuana research<\/a>\u2014the first time that a president enacted standalone cannabis reform legislation.<\/p>\n

After the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended rescheduling cannabis, and the DOJ agreed with that assessment, the Biden-Harris campaign was quick to promote the administration\u2019s role in that decision. In email blasts, the campaign contrasted Biden\u2019s marijuana actions with those of the Trump administration<\/a>, emphasizing that federal enforcement guidance that urged discretion with state cannabis laws was rescinded under Trump.<\/p>\n

That said, the Biden administration has not issued updated guidance, despite comments from Attorney General Merrick Garland about the department\u2019s intent to do so.<\/p>\n

Also, while top officials at DOJ, HHS, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and other agencies have applauded the president\u2019s work to reform federal marijuana policy<\/a>, the administration has faced criticism for other anti-cannabis actions, such as DOJ\u2019s consistent defense of a ban preventing cannabis consumers from owning guns<\/a> in the face of multiple federal lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of that policy.<\/p>\n

Also under Biden, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has faced scrutiny for using resources to seize cannabis from state-legal businesses<\/a> in New Mexico.<\/p>\n

Another key criticism from advocates and lawmakers concerns the administration\u2019s budget requests, which have all proposed maintaining an appropriations rider blocking Washington, D.C. from using local tax dollars from legalizing marijuana sales, despite voters in the District approving legalization a decade ago.<\/p>\n

Recently, the White House said Biden \u201ccommends and welcomes\u201d the mass pardons issued at the state level by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D). The president had encouraged governors to follow his lead with cannabis clemency.<\/p>\n

The White House has also come out against a House-passed proposal to prevent military branches from testing for marijuana<\/a>\u00a0for enlistment or commission as part of a large-scale defense bill, calling cannabis use a \u201cmilitary readiness and safety concern.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, the president signed an earlier version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that contains provisions to fund clinical trials into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics<\/a> for active duty military service members.<\/p>\n

Early in 2021, meanwhile, the Biden administration came under fire after it was reported that it had terminated or otherwise punished dozens of staffers<\/a>\u00a0who admitted to prior marijuana use as part of their background check process.<\/p>\n

Trump<\/h3>\n

As president, Trump largely stayed true to his position that marijuana laws should be handled at the state-level, with no major crackdown on cannabis programs as some feared after then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Obama era federal enforcement guidance. In fact, Trump criticized the top DOJ official and suggested the move should be reversed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While he was largely silent on the issue of legalization, he did tentatively endorse a bipartisan bill to codify federal policy respecting states\u2019 rights to legalize<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Trump eventually forced out Sessions from the top spot at DOJ, replacing him with William Barr, who at points indicated the department should not waste resources on enforcing prohibition in legal states but also faced internal criticism for leading investigations into cannabis industry mergers that were reportedly borne out of a personal animus for marijuana.<\/p>\n

While Trump has spoken out in favor of medical cannabis legalization, on several occasions he released signing statements on spending legislation stipulating that he\u00a0reserved the right to ignore a long-standing rider<\/a>\u00a0that prohibits the Justice Department from\u00a0using its funds to interfere with state-legal medical marijuana programs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While in office, Trump also signed \u201cRight to Try\u201d legislation into law to allow terminal patients to access drugs that haven\u2019t been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but have cleared a phase one trial\u2014a move that some advocates said would let a limited number of people use marijuana, psilocybin and MDMA for therapeutic reasons.<\/p>\n

He also gave final approval to a bipartisan resentencing bill affecting drug cases, as well as large-scale agriculture legislation that included provisions legalizing hemp containing up to 0.3 percent THC<\/a> by dry weight.<\/p>\n

However, while he did issue a number of pardons and commutations for people convicted of certain drug offenses\u2014and at points seemed to sympathize with people with substance misuse issues\u2014he\u2019s expressed extreme drug policy views when it comes to illicit trafficking.<\/p>\n

Trump reelection officials also issued a cease and desist letter in 2020 demanding that Mississippi medical cannabis activists\u00a0stop using the then-president\u2019s name to campaign for their ballot initiative<\/a>\u2014despite the fact that the advocates accurately quoted his repeated comments in support for medical marijuana.<\/p>\n

Another controversial administrative action\u00a0concerned immigrants and marijuana<\/a>. In April 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a memo stating that using marijuana or engaging in cannabis-related \u201cactivities\u201d such as working for a dispensary\u2014even in states where it\u2019s legal\u2014makes immigrants ineligible for citizenship because it means they don\u2019t have \u201cgood moral character.\u201d<\/p>\n

In December 2019, the Justice Department issued a notice that it was seeking to make certain marijuana offenses, including misdemeanor possession,\u00a0grounds to deny asylum to migrants<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During the course of his failed 2020 reelection bid, Trump\u2019s campaign made clear it wanted to\u00a0depict him as the criminal justice reform candidate<\/a>, repeatedly attacking Biden over\u00a0his record as an \u201carchitect\u201d of punitive drug laws<\/a>\u00a0during his decades in the Senate, for example.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an overview of the candidates\u2019 records on marijuana issues outside of the Oval Office:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Biden<\/h3>\n

While Biden has increasingly promoted marijuana policy reform as president, during his time in the Senate he served as chair of the influential Judiciary Committee that helped shape U.S. drug policy during an era of heightened scaremongering and criminalization. And he was among the most prominent Democratic drug warriors in Congress for decades.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s sponsored some of the country\u2019s most punitive drug legislation, including the notorious 1994 crime bill\u2014even though in some cases, he has addressed the consequences of his anti-drug legislative activism.<\/p>\n

Biden introduced the Comprehensive Narcotics Control Act of 1986. The wide-ranging anti-drug\u00a0legislation called for the establishment of a cabinet position to develop the federal government\u2019s drug enforcement policies\u2014a role that fits the description of the \u201cdrug czar\u201d position, a term the senator coined in 1982 and which was subsequently created to lead ONDCP.<\/p>\n

Shortly after announcing his presidential candidacy, Biden came out in support of decriminalizing marijuana<\/a>, legalizing medical cannabis, expunging the records of individuals with prior cannabis convictions and allowing states to set their own marijuana policies. A spokesperson also said that he favors rescheduling marijuana to Schedule II\u2014but he\u2019s since backed the DOJ assessment that it should be moved to Schedule III.<\/p>\n

Biden found himself in hot water in November 2019 by arguing that marijuana may be a gateway to more dangerous drugs<\/a>\u00a0and that\u2019s partly why he opposes legalization.<\/p>\n

Trump<\/h3>\n

It might come as a surprise, but 30 years ago, Trump argued in favor of legalizing all drugs. He\u2019s since dramatically shifted on that position.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re losing badly the war on drugs. You have to legalize drugs to win that war. You have to take the profit away from these drug czars,\u201d he said at the time. \u201cWhat I\u2019d like to do maybe by bringing it up is cause enough controversy that you get into a dialogue on the issue of drugs so people will start to realize that this is the only answer; there is no other answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, 25 years later, he was at the Conservative Political Action Conference stating that he thinks marijuana legalization is \u201cbad\u201d and that he feels \u201cstrongly about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve got a lot of problems going on right now in Colorado, some big problems,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

But the candidate clarified that he supports states\u2019 rights to set their own marijuana laws, saying, \u201cIf they vote for it, they vote for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMedical marijuana is another thing,\u201d he added. \u201cI think medical marijuana, 100 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n

In April 2023, Trump suggested that there may be a link between the use of \u201cgenetically engineered\u201d marijuana and mass shootings<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to look at whether common psychiatric drugs, as well as genetically engineered cannabis and other narcotics, are causing psychotic breaks\u201d that lead to gun violence, he said.<\/p>\n

Trump seemed confused during an interview in June 2023 when he was confronted with the fact that his proposed plan to impose the death penalty on drug traffickers would have condemned a woman he pardoned and promoted as an example of a key criminal justice reform achievement during his administration.<\/p>\n

He first defended his extreme position that drug traffickers should be quickly convicted and executed, touting countries like China and Singapore for enforcing the lethal penalty against drug offenders. The candidate said that capital punishment \u201cis the only way you\u2019re going to stop\u201d addiction.<\/p>\n

The interview host contrasted that position with the president\u2019s support for bipartisan sentencing reform legislation, the First Step Act, that he signed into law in 2018. The host asked Trump about criticism that the reform led to the early release of certain individuals involved in drug trafficking who subsequently committed violent crime.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I focused on non-violent crime,\u201d Trump said, citing his presidential commutation and pardon of Alice Johnson as an example. He said that Johnson, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole over her role in a cocaine trafficking ring in the 1990s, \u201cgot treated terribly\u201d and \u201cunfairly,\u201d equating her treatment to his own as he faces multiple federal counts over alleged violations of the Espionage Act.<\/p>\n

He announced plans in January 2023 to \u201cdestroy the drug cartels.\u201d And he reportedly asked advisors about the possibility of utilizing a military option to take action against drug trafficking organizations in Mexico.<\/p>\n

Analysis <\/strong><\/p>\n

Both presidential candidates have mixed records that leave them open to criticism from advocates, but Biden\u2019s trajectory has been trending strongly toward reform since he took office. Trump\u2019s position on marijuana specifically remains somewhat opaque, though so far he\u2019s given no indication that he would push for pro-cannabis policies if he got another shot at the White House\u2014and he\u2019s ramped up anti-drug rhetoric on the campaign trail.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also been an open question about where Trump will fall on a state-level legalization initiative that he\u2019ll get a chance to vote on<\/a> this November as a Florida resident. \u201cI believe it has always been his position that the states should decide,\u201d Roger Stone, a Republican consultant and longtime ally of Trump, told Marijuana Moment in April. However, he added: \u201cI don\u2019t know that he personally would vote for this.\u201d<\/p>\n

The candidates do seem aligned on at least one issue: States should have the right to set their own cannabis policies without federal interference.<\/p>\n

While Biden has campaigned on his marijuana pardons and scheduling directive, however, he\u2019s made clear he\u2019s not interested in going further by granting clemency to people with convictions for sales or cultivation, for example. He also remains opposed to adult-use legalization.<\/p>\n

With polling consistently showing Americans support ending prohibition, it remains to be seen whether that might factor in to the thinking of either candidate as they move forward with their campaigns. The issue might be more popular among Democrats, but the surveys have indicated the either candidate would stand to benefit from embracing reform.<\/p>\n

\n

NCAA Votes To Remove Marijuana From Banned Substances List For College Athletes<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

The post Biden Vs. Trump On Marijuana: Where The Candidates Stand Heading Into The 2024 Election<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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\nRead More: Biden Vs. Trump On Marijuana: Where The Candidates Stand Heading Into The 2024 Election<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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