Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal Federally?

2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SITE

Last updated on: 10/29/2019 7:41:22 AM PST

In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first US states to legalize recreational marijuana (also called adult-use marijuana/cannabis). While marijuana remains illegal under federal law, 11 states and DC have passed laws allowing the use of recreational marijuana as of Oct. 25, 2019. For more information please visit marijuana.procon.org.

Pro

Hawkins

Jorgensen

Con

Biden

Not Clear or Not Found

Trump

Pro (Yes)

Pro

Hawkins
Green

"The war on marijuana has caused tremendous damage. When we end the marijuana war we need to do so not only to create a policy that will work for the future but one that corrects the mistakes of the past. Some of the essential elements of a sensible marijuana policy includes:

Repeal criminal laws for marijuana offenses.
Remove marijuana from the Schedules of the Controlled Substances Act so it can be used medically.
Allow people to grow their own marijuana without any taxation.
Tax marijuana like any other commodity without a special marijuana tax.
Do not allow the liquor, tobacco, pharmaceutical and Big Ag industries, and corporations like Monsanto, to engage in the marijuana market.
Prevent marijuana oligopolies with caps on limits of market share."

Source: Howie Hawkins, "Legalize Marijuana and End the War on Drugs," howiehawkins.us, Apr. 19, 2020

Pro

Jorgensen
Libertarian

"Yes. I will work with Congress to end the failed War on Drugs, and ensure adults nationwide can make choices about their bodies without being criminalized. This will make drugs safer, encourage personal responsibility, and drive down violent crime."

Source: Communication from the Jorgensen campaign to ProCon.org on Aug. 26, 2020

Con (No)

Con

Biden
Democrat

"I think states should be able to make a judgment to legalize [recreational] marijuana, I think that's okay. But let me tell you, the truth of the matter is there's not nearly been enough evidence acquired as to whether or not it is a gateway drug. It's a debate. Before I legalize it nationally, I want to make sure we know a lot more about the science behind it."

Source: Rebecca Falconer, "Biden: There's No Proof Marijuana Isn't a Gateway Drug," axios.com, Nov. 17, 2019

[Editor's Note: Andrew Bates, a Biden spokesperson, clarified Biden's statement to CNN: "As he said [Tuesday, May 14, 2019], Vice President Biden does not believe anyone should be in jail simply for smoking or possessing marijuana. He supports decriminalizing marijuana and automatically expunging prior criminal records for marijuana possession, so those affected don't have to figure out how to petition for it or pay for a lawyer. He would allow states to continue to make their own choices regarding legalization and would seek to make it easier to conduct research on marijuana's positive and negative health impacts by rescheduling it as a schedule 2 drug."

Source: Arlette Saenz, "Joe Biden Supports Decriminalizing Marijuana, Stops Short of Calling for Legalization," cnn.com, May 16, 2019]

Not Clearly Pro or Con

Trump
Republican

"Q: Thank you, President Trump. Many studies have shown that legal access to marijuana results in less opioid abuse and fewer overdose deaths. Many states have legalized marijuana. Do you think that it will happen federally during your presidency?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we're going to see what's going on. It's a very big subject. And right now we're in — we're allowing states to make that decision. And a lot of states are making that decision. But we're allowing the states to make that decision."

Source: Donald Trump, "Remarks by President Trump before Marine One Departure," whitehouse.gov, Aug. 30, 2019

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