Dem Presidential Candidates Mostly Agree on Marijuana Legalization. The Exception? Joe Biden

[uawchild]

In 2016, legalizing marijuana was a niche issue. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders mentioned it occasionally, while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton supported the lesser step of removing pot from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

Things have changed. Nearly every major Democratic contender for the 2020 nomination has come out in support of legalizing marijuana at the federal level, and several candidates have gone even further, proposing expunging non-violent marijuana convictions and investing in communities harmed by the War on Drugs.

The one exception: Former Vice President Joe Biden.

“It’s really an anomaly in the history of presidential politics in this country to have almost all the major Democratic candidates coming out for legalization,” says Erik Altieri, executive director of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which supports legalization. “Basically, everyone except for Joe Biden is pretty good on this.”

https://time.com/5603016/marijuana-legalization-democratic-presidential-candidates/

[Uncle Joe]

1. It's way past time to stop feeding the for profit prison industry.

Thanks for the thread uawchild.

[yaesu]

13. plus weed has a lot of benefits that upset the for profit prescription drug industry. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

28. Excellent point!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[emmaverybo]

2. How many times a day do you try to convince DUers that Biden is the candidate we should reject?

[uawchild]

4. Don't you support Joe Biden's position on Marijuana?

Please explain how an article that just details positions is me trying to convince people one way or the other.

People are free to see what each candidate stands for and decide for themselves whom to support.

Are you thinking, perhaps, that many DUers won't like Biden's position on Marijuana legalization?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

10. What?! People should "see what each candidate stands for and decide for themselves whom to support"?

Are you mad?!?! That sounds an awful lot like democracy!! hahaha... great post!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Blue_true]

27. I personally am somewhat cold toward legalization.

I support complete decriminalization for amounts under 8 ounces and I fully support medical marijuana.

My state of Florida may have legalization on the ballot in 2020. Since we don't have decriminalization yet, I will likely vote to legalize, but I wish the proponents had gone for decriminalization and expunging pot convictions below a certain amount first.

So, Biden is not alone, some democrats are not totally convinced about legal Pot.

[customerserviceguy]

56. And in 2008

some were not totally convinced about equal marriage, either. At least that's how they talked.

[LanternWaste]

40. I dig how you responded to the question, but avoided answering it.

[PufPuf23]

5. Given other choices, this is an good reason to reject Biden as POTUS candidate. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

11. I'd only say, by itself, this doesn't necessarily crater Joe's campaign, but, he needs to be careful

from here on out, and reevaluate his positions on numerous progressive issues and evolve quickly, or else his campaign will be at risk.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[PufPuf23]

19. On marijuana Biden is out of step with the rank and file of the Democratic party plus

he is responding to the reality of a strong political wind counter to his historic position.

Biden comes to the primaries with too much political baggage.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

22. That's kinda what I'm sayin...but if Joe acts quickly to shift some of his outdated policy positions

he might be able to save his campaign and possibly even win. But, if Joe stubbornly sticks to those antiquated policy positions, which are out of step with the progressive agenda that has been sweeping the nation - led by Bernie since he first began running for President and began highlighting that agenda and bringing it to the fore - I believe his poll numbers will continue slipping and signal the end of his candidacy.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Hekate]

14. This poster is just busy, busy, busy

I wonder who he'll pick next in case Joe drops out.

[emmaverybo]

16. Busy bee, he. Ha, Ha. I do wonder...nt

[BannonsLiver]

18. Yes

Though the OP is transparently moving the goalposts, I wish Joe had a more modern stance.

The difference is my interest in the issue is genuine, and not meant to be used to bludgeon a popular Democrat and sew division. It’s also not a deal breaker for me.

[Honeycombe8]

39. Are you embarrassed by Biden's positions, so that you don't want people calling attention to them?

So you think that someone posting about his positions on issues is an attack of some sort? People post the positions of all the candidates on the various issues.

[Mme. Defarge]

3. What a meanie!

[dogman]

6. You got that right.

Look who go to jail, mostly young and minorities. Great GOTV effort there.

[LibFarmer]

7. I don't think people will reject Biden over this issue

The ones who feel strongly about it are already supporting other candidates.

[Indygram]

8. Yes they will. Most Independents and Moderates support legalization

Especially for medical uses. Biden is really showing himself to be extremely outdated with current popular opinion. He's right on health care but wrong on so many other things. The more time passes the more I wish he just never entered the race. Originally I also thought he was the best choice and hope...but he keeps disappointing me and reminding me why he always lost when he ran previously.

[LibFarmer]

9. Yes ... continue this drumbeat for a couple of days

then Biden will come and clarify his position which will make the detractors look ridiculous.

In the interim, Biden eats up 4-5 days of news cycles and other candidates lose oxygen.

[progressoid]

25. He seems to have to "clarify" his positions a lot.

Doesn't make the detractors look ridiculous. But it does make his campaign look confused and blundering.

[LibFarmer]

31. I actually enjoy his detractors fuming and then imploding

First it was the Lucy Flores thing
Then there was the Biden is a racist against busing thing
Then the Biden said Cheney is a good guy thing
Then the Biden is chummy with republicans thing
Then the Hyde amendment thing
Now the marijuana thing

All were duds ... it was fun to watch people froth at the mouth and then go into despair as poll after poll comes out.

Moral of the story: A vast majority of the electorate wants decency, normalcy, competence, experience and a candidate who can kick Trump's ass. All these little things will have no effect.

[progressoid]

37. Your list is a little short.

These repeated clarifications don't show competence and experience, but rather a weather vane candidacy that is out of touch with the Democratic voter.
I expect the next thing to clarify, or evolve, or flip-flop, or what ever the latest term is, will be his foreign policy blunders. Like his support for the Iraq war.

[LibFarmer]

41. He stays in the news, consuming news cycles

whilst Bernie gets ignored during those times.

If this continues, Biden will be polling at 50% and people will ask pollsters "Bernie who?"

[progressoid]

42. When you can't defend your candidate, I suppose it's best to pivot to attacking a rival candidate.

[LibFarmer]

43. I learnt that skill from anti-Democratic posters on DU. nt

[progressoid]

44. anti-Democratic posters?

I've not seen many of those for the last couple years.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

32. If Joe is looking to distinguish himself from the rest of the pack of progressive candidates...

he's doing an excellent job!! AND, it seems to be working, as Joe has a measurable lead in the polls, though it has been slipping a bit of late.

Perhaps, it's all part of his "return to normalcy" strategy. I'd be surprised if it works all the way through the primary race, but, who knows. Guess we'll soon see when the debates start, and Joe is confronted by the media and his fellow Democratic candidates who also will be looking to distinguish THEMSELVES from the frontrunner.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[yaesu]

15. it doesn't even come close to being a major issue for him but I hope he is at least for

removing it from the schedule one list.

[Dream Girl]

33. Joe needs to "evolve" stat

And I’m a surport

[Indygram]

34. I do

And I don't like the idea of recreational legalization.

Young voters are actually involved and paying attention now and they will NOT support anyone who doesn't support legalization. They will be the ones decided who wins.

[Jake Stern]

12. Wholeheartedly support legalization

and still support Biden because my overriding goal at this time is getting Trump out of the White House. Personally I feel, based on his years of experience and how dogged he can be in a political fight, that Biden is the person best suited to do that.

With Trump in the WH and the Senate firmly in GOP hands do you think legalization at the federal level will occur? Do you think the Hyde Amendment is going bye bye under Twitler and his minions?

Let's purge our government of this virus and then tackle the issues that need tackling.

[emmaverybo]

17. Sensible post. Nt

[emmaverybo]

26. Smart. nt

[Scurrilous]

35. ...

[Cha]

36. Yes, I support Legalization of Marijuana, too..

I don't even smoke anymore but it always seemed like a stupid law to me.. supported by the alcohol industry.

Now I want CBD oil to be legal on a Fed level, too.. it's ridiculous that it's not.

Well said, Jake Stern!

[GemDigger]

20. Compared to Russia, China, womens health, global warming, a shitload of other issues

and myself being a life long pot smoker who got popped once THIS is the least of my worries.

[uawchild]

21. How about mass incarceration of minorities? Its coupled.

Marijuana laws have resulted in disproportional arrest and over charging of minorities and have contributed greatly to mass incarceration.

And mass incarceration has been a primary tool to disenfranchise minority voters.

It's not just about recreational smoking.

[GemDigger]

23. Yes they have and that needs to be fixed. BUT legalizing pot is not the top of my

list of who to chose for President nor is it the top of my list to ding candidates for. If Trump and Russia win.. pot smoking is the last freaking thing we will be worrying about.

[BannonsLiver]

24. Bravo. Most people are focused on beating Trump.

Unfortunately sour grapes are in season with others.

[Blue_true]

30. If Biden is for decriminalization and descheduling, he covers all of your complaints.

I am somewhat cold toward legal pot, but don't want to see people getting jailed for amounts smaller than what a dealer would carry. I am ok with decriminalization up to 8 ounces, people who know about such things say that's a lot of Pot.

[nolabear]

46. Trust me. That's a LOT of pot.

I’m in favor of legalization. I live in WA where it’s legal and let me tell you, it’s a different world. The stores carry many carefully bred and regulated strains. They screen the growers (commercial growers) for use of pesticides and honesty in stating percentages of THC and CBD and other ingredients (phenols vary). You can get apps like Leafly that break down uses such as kinds and strengths of psychotropic effect, medicinal uses, taste and smell, etc.

It’s about $28 for a bud. There is absolutely no reason that bud shouldn’t last you a week if you use it way too much. I’m a very casual user so might buy twice a year, unless you’re talking CBD oil, which for some of us with nasty joint pain makes life worth living, with no high.

I’d like to see Joe have some serious conversations with the states that have legalized and regulated it. It’s a different world.

[Blue_true]

47. What is a bud? Pot talk fly over my head. I have never used the stuff or hung out with people

that did. So I am really square in that space.

[nolabear]

48. It's literally a bud. The dried flowering part.

I’d say most are the size of a man’s thumb. Depending on strain it costs $20-30.

[Blue_true]

49. Ok. Thanks. nt

[LakeArenal]

29. Not a deal breaker.

[Honeycombe8]

38. I thought he flip flopped recently on that, too?

Didn't he "change his mind" on legalizing pot, like he did on the Hyde Amendment? He first made a statement that he still thinks pot is a gateway drug (a belief held by the older and by the uninformed, dating back a couple of decades). Then he said he no longer believed it is a gateway drug?

Of course he didn't change his mind in a few days. He just said he did. Like his Hyde Amendment position.

[rollin74]

45. legalization is supported by about 2/3 of the population including a majority of republicans now

legal cannabis is also the fastest growing industry in our country, employing hundreds of thousands and growing exponentially

Biden really seems to have a backwards view on this issue, especially for a Democrat

I hope he announces that he has changed his mind about this


Does he even support banking reform that would allow cannabis businesses to work with financial institutions without fear of prosecution? Legislation is currently working its way through congress and has been endorsed publicly by 38 state attorneys general.

[Politicub]

50. Disappointing but not disqualifying

It makes him seem out of touch with the zeitgeist, though.

[Kurt V.]

51. K&R

[Honeycombe8]

52. Good for those who see the light!

There's nothing wrong with someone my age (over 60) buying a little pot to ease some pain or help me sleep or help me relax at home, w/o having to go to a dr. I'm not going to be hanging out on street corners trying to score heroin because last week I was ingesting pot.

I see it as similar to alcohol, which I don't care for. What's wrong with buying a little pot? Of course, no driving under the influence. All the laws about alcohol apply.

[stonecutter357]

53. so ?

[samnsara]

54. he will do ok by weed...he usually eventually comes around..

[marylandblue]

55. So it's just another issue we should ignore until he flip-flops?

[mtnsnake]

57. All I can say is, I think most Americans would rather smoke some weed with Joe Biden

than have a beer with Bush or Trump.

[marylandblue]

58. I'd rather watch O'Rourke's dentist video 100 times than have a beer with Bush or Trump.