Kamala Harris on Energy & Oil : Aug 9, 2024
Does not support a total ban on fracking

During 2020, Harris publicly supported bans on fracking, mandatory buy-back programs for assault weapons, and decriminalizing illegal border crossings. Now, her campaign says she's changed her positions.

A few days ago, Harris' campaign released a statement saying the vice president "does not support a total ban on fracking" to drill for oil and gas. Video clips from 2019 of her telling CNN that "there's no question I'm in favor of banning fracking" have been circulating on social media.

Asked whether Harris' stance has changed, a campaign official told Axios that the vice president's positions have been "shaped by three years of effective governance."

Donald Trump on Immigration : Jul 12, 2024
Egregious failures of Kamala as border czar

True to form, Harris put America last. She must answer questions on what she knew when, and why she defrauded the American people. Biden and Harris abetted an invasion at our border, fueled inflation, lowered real wages, raised the tax burden on the middle class, weakened America's standing in the world, emboldened our enemies, allowed criminals to control our streets, and prioritized special interest groups over families.

Nikki Haley on Drugs : Jan 18, 2024
Marijuana isn't like heroin, but let states decide

HALEY: I mean, I think I'll go with the scientists on that. I think it's obviously not in the same class as heroin. But I also think when you're looking at the legalization of this, I want states to be able to decide that. That's something that should be as close to the people as possible. Some states are all for it and want to see that happen, and some states want nothing to do with it. But I do think that should be a state decision on whether they legalize it or not.

Ron DeSantis on Drugs : Aug 15, 2023
Don't federally decriminalize cannabis

"Canada has gone all that way [with legalization], and other countries have gone all that way. Some countries won't do it," he said during a recent interview with Newsmax. "But I am going to take a look at some final results. But indications are that is not exactly helpful."

DeSantis, for his part, said in June that he would not federally decriminalize cannabis if elected. He said he's concerned about the potency of marijuana and, despite a lack of evidence, the possibility that products could be laced with more dangerous drugs such as fentanyl. "If you do something with that, it could be goodnight right then and there," he said. "You could die just by ingesting that, so I think that that's problematic."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Drugs : Aug 15, 2023
Federally decriminalize cannabis

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running as a Democrat, took a swipe at DeSantis over his opposition to reform. If elected, he said, "I will decriminalize cannabis at the federal level." He later declined an invitation to smoke a joint with comedian Bill Maher.

Kennedy's decriminalization position aligns him to some extent with President Joe Biden, who has also backed decriminalization and allowing states to set their own cannabis laws. The president has also directed an administrative review into marijuana's federal scheduling that one top official recently told Marijuana Moment he hopes to have completed by the year's end.

Vivek Ramaswamy on Drugs : Aug 15, 2023
Legalize marijuana, plus psychedelics for PTSD vets

Ramaswamy also posted on social media: "I support decriminalizing ayahuasca & ketamine for veterans suffering from PTSD, to prevent the epidemic of fentanyl & suicide."

Ramaswamy repeatedly described decriminalization as an "important" piece of a more comprehensive drug policy, emphasizing his view that tighter border security and reduced U.S. demand for drugs are also essential. "In the long run, decriminalization, serially, is an important part of the long-run solution here," he said in June in NH, adding that he's skeptical of prohibition and is "not a war-on-drugs person."

He also stressed the availability of psychedelics as a viable alternative for people who are suffering from mental health conditions. "For veterans at least. Let's start with PTSD, where there's good evidence for psychedelics, from ayahuasca to ketamine," Ramaswamy said.

Cornel West on Health Care : Aug 7, 2023
Medicare for all including humane mental healthcare

Joe Biden on Drugs : Oct 6, 2022
Pardon people in federal jail for smoking marijuana

PROMISE PARTIALLY KEPT: (CNN, 10/6/22): Biden will pardon all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession [because such offenses] "incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit," Biden said. "Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment. Black & brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates." He will also encourage governors to take similar steps to pardon state simple marijuana possession charges, and will "expeditiously" review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.

Dean Phillips on Drugs : May 12, 2021
Marijuana prohibition defies common sense & popular will

Despite bipartisan, majority citizen support for legalization, Minnesota has some of the strictest cannabis policies in the nation. H.F. 600 would allow adults to grow and consume cannabis in a responsible fashion while ensuring that law enforcement has the tools necessary to meet new challenges. Further, the legislation would expunge non-violent cannabis offenses from Minnesotans' criminal records and invest revenues from cannabis taxation into the communities that were disproportionately impacted by the failed War on Drugs.

"Laws prohibiting recreational marijuana use defy both common sense and the will of the people," said Phillips. "It is absurd that a country built on the principles of freedom and liberty would ever criminalize the consumption of a plant."

Joe Biden on Drugs : Oct 15, 2020
Rehab but no jail time for drug use; decriminalize marijuana

Kamala Harris on Drugs : Oct 7, 2020
Will get rid of cash bail and decriminalize marijuana

Joe Biden on Drugs : Aug 23, 2020
Will fight for policy of decriminalizing marijuana

HARRIS: That's part of the policy and the platform, that a Biden-Harris administration is going to fight for. A Department of Justice, unlike what Bill Barr is under Donald Trump, that is actually investigating these cases and enforcing consent decrees. A policy that is going to be about decriminalizing marijuana. Having a policy that is about looking at having a centralized database in our country that tracks police officers that have been found to break the rules or break the law.

Kanye West on Drugs : Jul 20, 2020
Marijuana should be free

Joe Biden on Drugs : Nov 20, 2019
Black community supports decriminalizing marijuana

Kamala Harris on Immigration : Jul 31, 2019
Kids whose parents crossed border are treated like criminals

BENNET: I disagree that we should decriminalize our border.

HARRIS: I went to a place in Florida called Homestead, and there is a private detention facility that currently houses 2,700 children. There were members of Congress there, [including Julian Castro, but] they would not let us enter the place. So I walked down the road, I climbed a ladder, and I looked over the fence. And I'm going to tell you what I saw. I saw children lined up single file based on gender being walked into barracks. The policies of this administration have been facilitated by laws on the books that allow them to be incarcerated as though they've committed crimes. These children have not committed crimes and should be not treated like criminals.

BENNET: There's not a single person on this stage who would ever separate a child from their parents at the border.

Joe Biden on Immigration : Jul 31, 2019
Problem is Trump, not criminalizing illegal border crossings

Biden: I have guts enough to say his plan [to decriminalize the border] doesn't make sense. When people cross the border illegally, it is illegal to do it unless they're seeking asylum. People should have to get in line. That's the problem. And the only reason this particular part of the law is being abused is because of Donald Trump. We should defeat Donald Trump and end this practice.

Marianne Williamson on Drugs : Jul 17, 2019
Legalize marijuana, but no expungement

18 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Michael Bennet; Cory Booker; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Bill de Blasio; Tulsi Gabbard; Kirsten Gillibrand; Kamala Harris; John Hickenlooper; Jay Inslee; Amy Klobuchar; Seth Moulton; Beto O`Rourke; Tim Ryan; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Andrew Yang.

Candidates supporting legalization argue that criminal penalties for marijuana possession have created far more harm than would come from treating it more like alcohol or tobacco.

Many candidates--including Sens. Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and Kamala Harris--would go even further, calling for past criminal convictions for marijuana possession to be expunged.

Both former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee opposed their states successful 2012 referendums allowing recreational marijuana sales, but have since become champions of legalization.

Kamala Harris on Drugs : Jul 2, 2019
SAFE Banking Act: Decriminalize marijuana finances

• Allow Cannabis Businesses To Use Banks
• Allow VA Doctors To Recommend Medical Cannabis
• Allow States To Legalize Medical Cannabis
• Allow States To Legalize Recreational Cannabis
• End Cannabis Prohibition At Federal Level
• Cosponsors the Marijuana Justice Act of 2019, which would end cannabis prohibition at the federal level, expunge federal cannabis convictions, and reinvest in the communities that have been most harmed by cannabis prohibition.
• Cosponsors the SAFE Banking Act of 2019, which would allow banks to provide services to cannabis businesses that are legal at the state level.
• Quote: "While I don't believe in legalizing all drugs--as a career prosecutor I just don't--we need to do the smart thing, the right thing, and finally decriminalize marijuana." (2017)
• Quote: "Instead of going after drug cartels, and violent crime, and major traffickers, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is going after recreational marijuana users. That's not being smart on crime." (2018)

Howie Hawkins on Drugs : May 28, 2019
Drug abuse treatment should be available on demand

Joe Biden on Drugs : May 16, 2019
Nobody should be in jail for smoking marijuana

Asked by CNN if the former vice president supports legalizing marijuana, a Biden campaign spokesman said Biden believes the drug should be decriminalized and that decisions on legalization should continue on the state level. "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," he added.

Bernie Sanders on Drugs : May 16, 2019
Marijuana Justice Act: decriminalize pot & expunge records

Many in the Democratic presidential primary field have issued full-throated support for legalizing the drug on the federal level. Earlier this year, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced the Marijuana Justice Act, which would legalize marijuana on the federal level and expunge the records of those who have been charged with a crime for using or possessing the drug. Several Democratic presidential contenders have signed on as cosponsors of the measure: Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Former HUD Secretary Julian Castro are among the candidates that have also signaled support for legalization efforts.

Joe Biden on Drugs : May 16, 2019
2000s: mandatory minimum for marijuana; 2019: decriminalize

His decriminalization position marks a bit of a shift for Biden. "Focusing significant resources on interdicting or convicting people for smoking marijuana is a waste of our resources," Biden said in interview with TIME in 2014. "That's different than [legalization]. Our policy for our Administration is still not legalization, and that is [and] continues to be our policy."

While in the Senate, Biden, who over the years expressed opposition to legalizing marijuana, was an architect or supporter of tough-on-crime legislation, including the creation of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, also known as the "drug czar," and establishing mandatory minimum sentences for marijuana.

Kamala Harris on Drugs : May 7, 2019
Co-sponsor of Marijuana Justice Act for legalization

Joe Biden on Drugs : Apr 25, 2019
Supports marijuana decriminalization, not legalization

Bernie Sanders on Drugs : Apr 12, 2019
Co-sponsored federal legalization of marijuana

Donald Trump on Civil Rights : Feb 19, 2019
Global campaign to end the criminalization of homosexuality

U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, the highest-profile openly gay person in the Trump administration, is leading the effort. The U.S. embassy is flying in LGBT activists from across Europe for a strategy dinner to plan to push for decriminalization in places that still outlaw homosexuality--mostly concentrated in the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean. "It is concerning that, in the 21st century, some 70 countries continue to have laws that criminalize LGBTI status or conduct," said a U.S. official involved in organizing the event.

Although the decriminalization strategy is still being hashed out, officials say it's likely to include working with global organizations like the United Nations and the European Union, as well as other countries whose laws already allow for gay rights.

Tim Walz on Drugs : Oct 9, 2018
Full legalization of medical and recreational marijuana

Jeff Johnson (R): Supports medical marijuana but opposed to legalizing recreational.

Tim Walz (D): Yes. Supports full legalization of medical and recreational marijuana for adults.

Ron DeSantis on Drugs : Oct 9, 2018
No recreational marijuana; let voters decide medical usage

Ron DeSantis (R): No. Opposes recreational use. Will implement will of the voters on medical.

Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. "Legalize it. Tax it. Use the revenues to fix Florida's public schools."

Joe Maldonado on Drugs : May 15, 2018
Marijuana isn't a gateway drug

A: NO.

Donald Trump on Drugs : Jan 4, 2018
2016: let states decide on pot; 2018: feds over state law

29 states have enacted effective medical marijuana laws. Marijuana is legal and regulated for adults in 8 states.

[But Trump's] Attorney General Jeff Sessions has rescinded the Department of Justice policy that directed federal law enforcement not to target individuals or businesses that are in compliance with state law.

From August 2013 until yesterday, the Department of Justice policy had been not to enforce federal marijuana laws against individuals or businesses in states that are complying with state medical or adult-use marijuana laws, provided that one of eight federal priorities is not implicated.

Chris Christie on Drugs : Nov 8, 2015
Treatment, not jail, for drug addicts; it's a disease

CHRISTIE: My larger point, is that this is a disease. People who are committing violent acts, who are dealing drugs, they need to go to prison. But for the addicts, the people who are small-time users, we need to give them treatment. Although, I'm opposed to drug legalization.

Donald Trump on Drugs : Oct 29, 2015
Yes to medical marijuana; otherwise, decide state by state

Donald Trump on Drugs : Sep 22, 2015
1991: Illicit drugs should be decriminalized

Coupled with a previous statement suggesting that illicit drugs should be decriminalized, Trump's tax comments placed him left of center on the political spectrum, but they gained him little press coverage.

Bernie Sanders on Drugs : Sep 5, 2015
Decriminalize marijuana and study recreational legalization

A: Bernie supports the medical use of marijuana and the rights of states to determine its legality. He co-sponsored the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act in 2001

Q: And recreational pot?

A: Bernie wants to learn more about the impact that recreational legalization will have in states such as Colorado in order to determine whether or not he supports it: "Vermont voted to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana and I support that. And when I was mayor of Burlington, in a city with a large population, very few people were arrested for smoking marijuana. Our police had more important things to do."

Q: Has Bernie ever inhaled?

A: Bernie has inhaled! But, he wasn't a fan, personally: "Because I coughed a lot. I smoked marijuana twice, didn't quite work for me. It's not my thing, but it is the thing of a whole lot of people."

Jill Stein on Drugs : Dec 21, 2011
Marijuana is dangerous because it's illegal, not vice-versa

A: We wouldn't remove all laws against all drug use. Marijuana is a drug that is dangerous because it's illegal. It isn't illegal because it's dangerous. There are drugs in use that are far more harmful than marijuana--such as alcohol. Legalize marijuana and the dangers go away. Regulate it so that children can't buy it on the street corner.

Q: What about other drugs?

A: Drug use is a public health issue, not a criminal or moral issue. It should not be dealt with in the criminal justice system, but primarily as a public health issue.

Tim Scott on Drugs : Jul 20, 2011
Marijuana is unhealthy, but states' rights are important too

There is growing scientific evidence documenting the health risks associated with marijuana use including adverse effects on the lungs, the cardiovascular system, and possibly the immune & reproductive systems. However, I also understand the great importance of preserving the rights bestowed to the States.

Thank you again for your thoughts on this important issue. Sincerely, Tim Scott, Member of Congress

Joe Biden on Drugs : Dec 24, 2010
Marijuana is a gateway drug; legalization is a mistake

VP Joe Biden tells ABC, "There's a difference between sending (someone) to jail for a few ounces and legalizing it. The punishment should fit the crime. But I think legalization is a mistake. I still believe it's a gateway drug. I've spent a lot of my life as chairman of the Judiciary Committee dealing with this. I think it would be a mistake to legalize."

This comment comes on the heels of Robertson's statement: "I just believe that criminalizing marijuana, criminalizing the possession of a few ounces of pot, that kinda thing (is) costing us a fortune and it's ruining young people. Young people go into prisons - they go in as youths and come out as hardened criminals. That's not a good thing."