Cannabis policy of the Joe Biden administration

President Joe Biden stated in February 2021 that his administration will pursue cannabis decriminalization, as well as seek expungements for people with prior cannabis convictions.[1]

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Background

Cannabis policy of Donald Trump
Further information: Cannabis policy of the Donald Trump administration

2020 state legalizations
Further information: List of 2020 United States cannabis reform proposals, Decriminalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States, and Legalization of cannabis in the United States

Cannabis legalization was approved via November 2020 ballot measures in four states: Arizona, Montana, South Dakota, and New Jersey. Additionally, medical cannabis was legalized via ballot measures during the same election in Mississippi and South Dakota; South Dakota became the first state to legalize medical and recreational cannabis simultaneously. Observers noted that cannabis legalization was approved in states with both conservative and liberal electorates, making it one of the few issues to gain broad bipartisan support in an otherwise highly divisive election.[2]

Biden "individual states should decide whether to legalize it for recreational use" during his 2020 campaign.[3]

Policy

As of January 2021, although Biden had stood for decriminalization and descheduling during his campaign, the administration had not formulated an explicit policy on cannabis. Some political and cannabis industry observers like the editor of Leafly thought the administration would be likely to assist in carrying out his campaign promises on cannabis through the MORE Act, sponsored by then-Senator Kamala Harris, or through executive order.[4] Failing full legalization, he could improve banking access by supporting the SAFE Act.[5][6]

References
  1. "President-Elect Joe Biden and the Future of Cannabis Policy in America". www.bradley.com. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  2. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marijuana-legalization-is-defying-the-partisan-divide/
  3. Tim Craig (January 11, 2021). "Biden, once a warrior in the 'war on drugs,' may slowly retreat". The Washington Post.
  4. Jeremy Berke (January 20, 2021), "Here's why Biden's presidency will be good for the US cannabis industry, even though it's unlikely he'll legalize marijuana federally", Business Insider
  5. Bud under Biden: What will be the new president's policies on cannabis, KCRW, January 22, 2021
  6. Kastalia Medrano (January 20, 2021), "The Biden Administration and Drug Policy: Expectation Versus Reality", Filter, We know Biden’s public stance on [marijuana policy]. He’s spoken about decriminalization, about medical legalization, about moving marijuana from its current classification as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act (using executive action to bring it down to Schedule II) and about expunging past convictions for marijuana charges. But he’s never come out in favor of full descheduling and full legalization.
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