In 2012, Colorado became the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. Since then, 10 other US states (Alaska, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia) have implemented similar laws to legalize the sale and use of cannabis.
Three U.S. Senate elections are quickly approaching on Nov. 3, and Americans are concerned with the candidates’ stances on marijuana legalization. During the three separate U.S. Senate election debates on Oct. 16, senators from Colorado, South Carolina and Texas expressed differing perspectives. Here’s what voters know thus far:
Colorado Democrats were less than pleased with Cory Gardner’s cannabis reform movement, stating ironically that he is “all stem and no bud.” Gardner had high hopes of convincing leadership to (1) advance state legalization laws and (2) allow marijuana businesses to access banks prior to the 2020 election, but these efforts have not been successful.
By contrast, while John Hickenlooper acted as Governor last year, multiple cannabis reform bills were vetoed. These include measures such as adding autism as a medical marijuana qualification, increasing flexibility for cannabis industry investments and operating tasting rooms in dispensaries. Despite these obstacles, Hickenlooper still wishes to see marijuana decriminalization on the federal level. Coloradans are anxious to know if federal intervention will affect the future of cannabis in the state.
In South Carolina, where there is still a ban on marijuana, Republican senator Lindsey Graham gave his take on the issue. Senator Graham’s views are still up in the air about marijuana reform, as seen by his mixed record. He has commented on the potential damage marijuana can have on children, saying that he has personally seen cannabis used as a gateway drug. However, Graham has also declared marijuana should be taxed the same way as alcohol and tobacco and does not think there is reason to lock people up for it.
Jaime Harrison, South Carolina’s Democratic candidate, was not asked to make remarks on the topic. But previously, he has been in favor of marijuana legalization. The marijuana ban in South Carolina remains a baffling issue for the divided state.
Texas, on the other hand, has a highly controlled medical marijuana program. In the debate between John Cornyn and MJ Hegar, both candidates were questioned regarding the legalization of cannabis.
Keeping the state-federal-policy issue in mind, Cornyn stated that legalizing marijuana will only cause more problems and further research is needed.
Hegar announced that she supports the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. She brought up valuable insights regarding the positive effects of THC on veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the financial benefits a cannabis reform bill could have for the state. Hegar also hit on the disproportional impact of incarceration for communities of color. Considering the decrease of marijuana possession-related arrests after legalizing hemp, further operation of marijuana programs in the state of Texas seems promising.
Based on these debates, it is clear that the legalization of marijuana is an important topic for U.S. citizens and at the forefront of our minds. It will be riveting to see how the upcoming election impacts marijuana programs on both a local and national level.
