Jeez, where did the time go? As Canadians, we have the luxury of watching the American Presidential election unfold from across the border — and few issues have been more revealing than where the candidates stand on marijuana. The race to the White House was set to conclude on November 3, 2020, but even from a Canadian perspective, it's worth understanding how our neighbours to the south were debating an issue that Canada had already settled under the Cannabis Act. While we've moved on federally, the outcome of U.S. elections still has real implications for cross-border policy, trade, and the broader North American cannabis conversation.
The Divided States of America
Like oil and water, it often seems that marijuana and politics do not mix south of the border. Too often we hear horror stories of users getting arrested and sent off to jail for unreasonably long sentences. That level of fear and uncertainty highly depends on where you live in the U.S. Does your state already have recreational marijuana? What about medical? At this point, it feels contradictory to call the United States united. Americans couldn't be more divided when it comes to marijuana legalisation. The same could be said of their opinions on the Presidential candidates.
Imagine a marijuana map of the U.S. if you will. The west coast (Washington, Oregon, California, and more or less Nevada) charges full steam ahead on recreational marijuana. Move further inland and you've got Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming — sorry, marijuana lovers, it's not happening there. At least not yet. But then you've got Colorado where surprise marijuana is fully legal!
Clearly, there's no consistent pattern. It would be remarkable if Americans could all get on the same page about at least one pressing issue. And the 2020 presidential election had the potential to be that very turning point. Let's take a look at which Presidential candidates were pushing for federal legalisation south of the border — and what that might mean for the broader North American conversation on cannabis.
Leading Names In The 2020 Presidential Election
Regardless of where you stand on then-President Donald Trump, he made it clear that he did not support federal legalisation of marijuana. Not to say he hadn't been wishy-washy in the past. From previous years, he was quoted saying marijuana can help some people. "…in some ways, I think it's good and in other ways, it's bad…I know people that have serious problems… and it really, really does help them."
But don't get your hopes up. The White House blocked a bill that would have made it easier to study the use of medical cannabis by veterans, and we all know that actions speak louder than words. This suggested Trump was a BIG FAT NO on federal legalisation.
Another big name in the 2020 presidential race was Joe Biden. While one might assume he'd be a broadly progressive candidate, his views on marijuana suggested otherwise. In his eyes, marijuana was still very much a gateway drug. "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 [marijuana] is a gateway drug."
This may be surprising to some, considering that former President Barack Obama was seemingly pro-marijuana. Obama believed marijuana should be treated as a public health issue, similar to cigarettes and alcohol.
Also in the running for 2020 was Bernie Sanders, who had been a fan-favourite among millennial progressives four years earlier. Bernie was giving it a second shot — and yes, he was firmly in support of federal legalisation. "Right now, marijuana is listed by the federal government as a Schedule I drug — meaning that it is considered to be as dangerous as heroin. That is absurd." In fact, Bernie was one of the most pro-marijuana Presidential candidates of the entire field.
Which Candidates Supported Federal Legalisation?
Since there wasn't time to go through every single candidate (cause, yeah, there were a lot), here's a handy list. The following candidates were in support of federal legalisation:
- Michael Bennett
- Cory Booker
- Pete Buttigieg
- Julián Castro
- Bill DeBlasio
- Tulsi Gabbard
- Kirsten Gillibrand
- Kamala Harris
- John Hickenlooper
- Jay Inslee
- Seth Moulton
- Beto O'Rourke
- Tim Ryan
- Bernie Sanders
- Eric Swalwell
- Elizabeth Warren
- William Weld
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
Those against federal legalisation were Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Granted, there were still some Presidential candidates sitting on the fence who could have changed their stance at any moment — Amy Klobuchar, Wayne Messam, Steve Bullock, John Delaney. Just by looking at the numbers, it was clear that 2020 was bringing a big push for federal legalisation south of the border — something Canadians could appreciate, given how far ahead our own Cannabis Act had already taken us. As cannabis enthusiasts here in Canada, it's always encouraging to see momentum building in our neighbour's backyard.
The future looked bright for federal marijuana legalisation in the U.S.! As Canadians, we can appreciate that governments have bigger fish to fry than going after smokers and tokers. If our neighbours to the south can stop focusing on the minor things (like marijuana), perhaps they can shift their collective attention to immigration, education, and climate change — things that actually matter. For us here in Canada, the conversation around cannabis legalisation has already been won, and it's exciting to watch the rest of the world start to catch up.
