As the United States becomes more and more politically polarized, one issue stands out as a rare point of consensus: cannabis legalization.

In late March 2024, a Pew Research Center survey found that an overwhelming share of U.S. adults (88%) believe marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use, crossing the vast ideological spectrum for which the U.S. has become known.

Despite this widespread public support, neither of the two main presidential contenders, Joe Biden nor Donald Trump, have fully embraced the issue, say advocates.

At the mid-April National Cannabis Policy Summit in Washington, DC, one of the organizers Caroline Phillips called the candidates’ track records on cannabis inconsistent and incremental, with promises that have yet to materialize in substantial action. "We’ve heard promises from both administrations, neither of which have panned out in full," she told the VOA.

But Biden Did This

Though Biden took a step toward legalization in August 2022 by directing the Department of Health and Human Services to review marijuana’s classification as a controlled substance, advocates are pushing for full removal from the DEA’s Controlled Substances Act, that is to say, fully de-scheduling marijuana.

Biden seems to be having a difficult time moving beyond his stock phrase that "no one should in prison for cannabis." He even said it during his State of the Union address.

And Trump Said That

Since leaving office, Trump’s remarks have been hazy, reflecting a mixed position that does not clearly align with either side of the legalization debate. Nearly a year ago, he called cannabis "a pretty popular thing" from a voting standpoint. Shortly before that, he said mass shootings were "not a gun problem” but rather blamed them on “genetically engineered” cannabis. Trump has called for the death penalty for drug dealers on various occasions.

Morgan Fox, political director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) told the outlet at the DC summit, that Trump has practically avoided the issue of cannabis while on the campaign trail. "We haven’t heard too much from the Republican nominee so far," he said, calling both of the candidates' attitudes out of step with the vast majority of Americans.  

Fox highlighted the candidates' disconnect from evolving public sentiment around cannabis, saying that despite growing awareness, they've been slow to adapt and therefore risk alienating a significant portion of the electorate, particularly young voters.

"Any candidate that actually wants to get ahead – whether it’s in the presidential election in Congress or state legislatures or local legislators – if they ignore this issue, it’s going to be at their peril," Fox said.

Photo: Created with images from Gage Skidmore on flickr