Biden’s New “Plan for Black America” Stops Short of Cannabis Legalization

In a tweet, earlier this week, former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democrat presidential nominee, announced what he calls, “Lift Every Voice: The Biden Plan for Black America.” Within the plan, he addresses several criminal justice reform issues. As reported by Marijuana Moment, among those getting the most attention is his revised stance on cannabis law reform.

Biden’s plan calls for the decriminalization of marijuana, expungement of criminal records related to cannabis possession, and a shift from criminal to drug courts for drug offenses. However, Biden’s plan, unlike the plans of rivals like Bernie Sanders and others, does not call for the legalization of cannabis.

Advocates of cannabis legalization and law reform recognize the progress the Biden campaign has made since he called marijuana a gateway drug and spoke against legalization but largely oppose parts of his plan, including forced treatment imposed by drug courts. Advocates generally do not feel Biden’s plan goes far enough to address racial equity or cannabis reform issues.

Today, I’m releasing a new plan to achieve equity for the African American community and take us one step closer to making America what it ought to be. Read more: https://t.co/ub49jLMI9M

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 4, 2020