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In each electoral cycle, our focus intensively shifts to evaluating the stances of numerous presidential candidates regarding their policies and historical positions on cannabis legalization and regulation. Our previous analysis of the 2020 election provided a comprehensive overview of the main candidates’ records in this area. As we embarked on the 2024 election season, our analysis began with an in-depth review of incumbent President Joe Biden, whom we assigned a grade of ‘C’ based on his track record with cannabis policy.
Following our assessment of President Biden, we turned our attention to the Republican challenger, Ron DeSantis, who earned a slightly higher grade of ‘C+’. However, in a surprising turn of events, DeSantis recently withdrew from the presidential race, subsequently throwing his support behind Donald Trump. Our analyses continued with Nikki Haley, another contender in the race, who we graded ‘B-‘. Despite being considered a longshot candidate, Haley remains a notable figure in the ongoing electoral contest.
Today, I propose to undertake a somewhat unconventional examination by focusing on an independent candidate, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. RFK Jr.’s journey in the 2024 race has been unique and noteworthy. Initially, he entered the fray as a primary challenger to President Biden within the Democratic Party. However, in a strategic shift in October, he decided to withdraw from the Democratic race and announced his candidacy as an independent. This move by RFK Jr. adds an intriguing dimension to the race, and his stance on cannabis policy warrants a thorough evaluation, given its potential impact on the broader discourse surrounding cannabis legalization and regulation in the United States.
Final Assessment: A-
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., despite being initially perceived as a long-shot candidate due to his early departure from the Democratic race to pursue an independent bid, has shown a notably progressive stance on cannabis legislation. His readiness to contemplate significant alterations to national cannabis regulations exceeds that of both President Biden and Donald Trump, who is almost certain to secure the Republican nomination. On account of this forward-thinking approach, I am inclined to award RFK Jr. an A- grade on the cannabis reform scale. The rationale behind this grade is multifaceted:
RFK Jr.’s perspectives on substance policy reform are deeply personal, largely influenced by his own past experiences with addiction. During the nascent stages of his campaign, while still competing in the Democratic primaries, he expressed a bold stance: not only did he advocate for the legalization of cannabis, but he also supported the legalization of psychedelics, a position he has consistently upheld. More recently, in his capacity as an independent candidate, he has emphasized the importance of decriminalizing cannabis as a means to shift focus toward addiction treatment, a sentiment echoed in his campaign advertisements.
Envisioning the practical implementation of RFK Jr.’s cannabis policy, we can anticipate several key components: (a) the legalization of cannabis with provisions for state-level regulation, (b) the introduction of federal taxes on cannabis products, (c) ensuring that businesses in the cannabis industry have access to banking services, (d) allocating revenue from cannabis taxation towards funding addiction treatment programs, and (e) as stated on his official campaign website, offering amnesty to individuals convicted of nonviolent substance offenses. While the specifics of these proposals remain to be detailed, they represent a significant departure from the positions of President Biden and former President Trump. In the following sections, I will revisit and further analyze the cannabis policies of these two political figures in comparison to RFK Jr.’s progressive stance.
Reasons for Assigning RFK Jr. an A- Grade Only
In my decision to assign Robert F. Kennedy Jr. an A- grade rather than a higher one, two primary considerations were taken into account. Firstly, there is a notable lack of specificity in the implementation details of his proposed plan. A critical area of ambiguity lies in the absence of clear information regarding the potential federal tax rate he might advocate for. The imposition of a high tax rate could significantly burden the cannabis industry. Therefore, I deemed it prudent to adopt a reserved stance in my judgment, pending a more detailed disclosure of his policy specifics.
Secondly, my perspective is tempered by a healthy dose of skepticism towards legalization initiatives that predicate their success on the belief that revenue generated from cannabis taxation will substantially alleviate major social issues. This skepticism is grounded in observations from my experiences in California. While I concur with RFK Jr.’s position on allowing states the autonomy to regulate cannabis, the introduction of a federal tax could exacerbate the financial strain on cannabis operators. This is particularly true unless there is a concurrent regulatory framework that restricts states or local municipalities from imposing their cannabis taxes – a scenario that seems unlikely.
These considerations have shaped my decision to award RFK Jr. an A-. Despite these reservations, it is important to acknowledge that his stance on cannabis reform and taxation represents a significant advancement compared to his political rivals. His approach, although not without potential downsides, indicates a forward-thinking change in the conversation about cannabis policy and its impact on addressing larger societal issues.
Comparing RFK Jr. with Leading Party Presidential Candidates
The 2024 election presents a unique scenario, distinguished by the fact that both major party challengers have previously occupied the Presidential Office. It is acknowledged that Nikki Haley remains a contender, but for this analysis, the focus will be primarily on the more probable candidates. Former President Donald Trump’s tenure was not particularly notable for progressive cannabis policy. Perhaps, his most noteworthy accomplishment in this field was eliminating hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. A future installment in this series will explore Trump’s perspective on cannabis legislation, but it’s already evident that his stance won’t match the advocacy displayed by RFK Jr.
President Biden, on the other hand, has shown a more favorable stance toward cannabis policy, yet his actions have not been as revolutionary as many had anticipated. Reflecting on the 2020 election cycle, we assigned President Biden a grade of ‘D’, predominantly based on his congressional record on this issue. In the current cycle, his grade has improved to a ‘C’. This enhancement is attributed to his decision to grant pardons for certain minor federal cannabis offenses and initiate an administrative review that could potentially lead to the rescheduling of cannabis. However, despite these steps, President Biden has had ample opportunity to collaborate with Congress to enact more substantial cannabis reform legislation, an opportunity he has yet to fully capitalize on.
RFK Jr. stands out with his array of unconventional and occasionally controversial viewpoints. However, in the realm of federal substance policy reform, he surpasses both Biden and Trump in advocating for meaningful change. While the likelihood of another Kennedy presidency in this election cycle seems slim, RFK Jr.’s progressive stance on cannabis policy may yet influence the approaches of the more prominent candidates. The possibility that either Biden or Trump or perhaps another major candidate, might adopt elements of RFK Jr.’s policy framework remains an intriguing prospect as the election unfolds.
