Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday tabbed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as her running mate. Walz, 60, pushed for cannabis legalization in his home state and signed the reforms into law last year.
Walz has earned an A rating from NORML after ordering state agencies to begin preparing for adult-use cannabis reforms in 2019 – sales began last August.
During the bill signing, Walz called legalization “the right move for Minnesota.” Walz has publicly supported cannabis reforms since 2017. During his time in the House of Representatives, Walz co-sponsored the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act (2018).
“We’ve known for too long that prohibiting the use of cannabis hasn’t worked. By legalizing adult-use cannabis, we’re expanding our economy, creating jobs, and regulating the industry to keep Minnesotans safe. Legalizing adult-use cannabis and expunging or resentencing cannabis convictions will strengthen communities.” — Walz, 5/30/23
Harris, a former prosecutor, has evolved on cannabis policy during her time as vice president. During a 4/20 2022 event, she called for a “change to our nation’s approach to marijuana.”
“Marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin and more dangerous than fentanyl,” she said during her remarks, “which is absurd, not to mention patently unfair.”
In a post on X on April 20 this year, timestamped at 4:20 pm, Harris posted a quote from President Joe Biden, “No one should be jailed just for using or possessing marijuana.” The vice president added, “Nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed.”
“We must continue to change our nation’s approach to marijuana while reforming the justice system so it finally lives up to its name,” she wrote.
The Biden Administration in May announced plans to reschedule cannabis from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug.
The Harris-Walz ticket is likely the most progressive major party presidential ticket on cannabis policy in history.
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