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Marijuana is no longer a fringe issue for 2020 presidential candidates

February 26, 2019

Candidate Decriminalization Legalization
Cory Booker A green check mark
Pete Buttigieg A green check mark
Julian Castro A green check mark
John Delaney A green check mark
Tulsi Gabbard A green check mark
Kirsten Gillibrand A green check mark
Kamala Harris A green check mark
Amy Klobuchar A green check mark
Bernie Sanders A green check mark
Elizabeth Warren A green check mark
Marianne Williamson A green check mark
Andrew Yang A green check mark
Donald Trump A green check mark
Bill Weld A green check mark

While they disagree on many issues, all of the announced Democratic presidential candidates told the Boston Globe they were in favor of national cannabis legalization similar to what Canada enacted last year.

[Read more: How marijuana became politically mainstream after decades on the fringe]

DEM

Cory Booker

Cory Booker, 49

New Jersey Senator

Legalization
Decriminalization

“I live in an inner city community that has had a very different experience with marijuana prohibition than the affluent communities that I grew up in and that the universities and colleges I attended — and that’s just not fair.”

DEM

Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg, 37

South Bend (Ind.) Mayor

Legalization
Decriminalization

“The safe, regulated, and legal sale of marijuana is an idea whose time has come for the United States, as evidenced by voters demanding legalization in states across the country.”

DEM

Julian Castro

Julian Castro, 44

Former HUD Secretary

Legalization
Decriminalization

“We can sensibly legalize marijuana use with reasonable controls in place.”

DEM

John Delaney

John Delaney, 55

Former Maryland Representative

Legalization
Decriminalization

“It has contributed to a criminal justice system where people of color are disproportionately harmed.”

DEM

Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard, 37

Hawaii Representative

Legalization
Decriminalization

“Legalizing adult use of marijuana is common sense and long overdue.”

DEM

Kirsten Gillibrand

Kirsten Gillibrand, 52

New York Senator

Legalization
Decriminalization

“Millions of Americans’ lives have been devastated because of our broken marijuana policies, especially in communities of color and low-income communities.”

DEM

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris, 54

California Senator

Legalization
Decriminalization

“I think it gives a lot of people joy, and we need more joy.”

DEM

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar, 58

Minnesota Senator

Legalization
Decriminalization

“I support the legalization of marijuana and believe that states should have the right to determine the best approach to marijuana within their borders.”

DEM

Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders, 77

Vermont Senator

Legalization
Decriminalization

“Prohibition against marijuana and other drugs is not working.”

DEM

Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren, 69

Massachusetts Senator

Legalization
Decriminalization

“It makes no sense for marijuana to be a Schedule 1 drug, which means the federal government has decided in advance that there is no medicinal value to marijuana.”

DEM

Marianne Williamson

Marianne Williamson, 66

Author and speaker

Legalization
Decriminalization

“The repeal of the prohibition is long overdue and I support it wholeheartedly.”

DEM

Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang, 44

California entrepreneur

Legalization
Decriminalization

“We should proceed with full legalization of marijuana and pardon those in jail for non-violent marijuana-related offenses.”

GOP

Donald Trump

Donald Trump, 72

President of the United States

Legalization
Decriminalization

“In terms of marijuana and legalization, I think that should be a state issue.”

GOP

Bill Weld

Bill Weld, 73

Former Massachusetts governor

Legalization
Decriminalization

“I think [national legalization] is inevitable. I don’t think any politician is going to be able to stop it.”

Photos: Alex Brandon/Associated Press/File; Alex Wong/Getty Images; Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images; Joshua Lott/AFP/Getty Images; Thos Robinson/Getty Images; Zach Gibson/Bloomberg; Zach Gibson/Getty Images; Celeste Sloman/The New York Times; Ethan Miller/Getty Images; Christopher Goodney/Bloomberg; Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images; Joshua Lott/AFP/Getty Images; Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg; Tina Fineberg for The Boston Globe