Kamala Harris signals she'll go further than Biden on marijuana legalization "we need to legalize it and stop criminalizing this behavior"

usernamesAreTricky@lemmy.ml to politics @lemmy.world – 1033 points –
Kamala Harris signals she'll go further than Biden on marijuana legalization
businessinsider.com
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Decriminalization is not the same as legalization. In terms of legalization, he only supported legalization for medical marijuana which is the process he started. He actually pledged to move it to schedule 2 but has started the process to move it to schedule 3. That process is getting closer for what it's worth. The DEA has really dragged it out but it's nearly at the end with the public hearing in December

From the source that politico links to

he will support the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes

[...]

reschedule cannabis as a schedule II drug so researchers can study its positive and negative impacts.


Copying my comment from elsewhere

The DEA has really dragged it out

Color me surprised. It's not like they've made millions by confiscating people's possessions in the name of "the drug war". Oh wait, that's exactly what they've been doing since they were established. Seriously, fuck the DEA.

Yea it’s still full of “is going to” and “process getting closer” stuff. He had 4 full years and didn’t do anything until halfway through his last year specifically so the next election cycle could continue to have a carrot to dangle. That was 3 more years of people having their lives permanently ruined.

The existing law outlines the complicated process. Biden cannot do it instantly. Here's an overview of the process that's already been done so far

Now the rule has been proposed so we're at the end of that graph. That's what I mean when I say we're close. Here's the actual rule making procedure to do the rescheduling

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/08/29/2024-19370/schedules-of-controlled-substances-rescheduling-of-marijuana


Additionally, it's worth noting that earlier, dem senate leader was also perusing a legislative path until it was clear they couldn't get the votes. Hence later executive action

Your infographic doesn't mention the DEA at all. I guess Biden was just asking them because he wanted to waste time and run out the clock.