Former Texas Rep. and likely Democratic contender for the 2020 presidential nomination Beto O’Rourke wants the federal government to end its prohibition on cannabis. In a lengthy email sent to supporters, O’Rourke called for federal cannabis legalization as part of a package of criminal justice proposals.
Beto O’Rourke Hops On Board Democrats’ Federal Legalization Bandwagon
Marijuana reform has received broad public support from across the political spectrum, but especially among liberal and progressive voters. In the already crowded field of Democratic presidential contenders, most have already endorsed marijuana legalization explicitly as a social and criminal justice measure. If O’Rourke is gearing up to officially enter the contest, a call for federal marijuana legalization is a safe, focus group-tested way to generate enthusiasm around his platform. It also signals the further mainstreaming of an issue that was barely on the federal policy agenda a handful of years ago.
Indeed, support for nationwide cannabis legalization seems to be somewhat of a litmus test for 2020 Democratic hopefuls. Even U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, who cut her political teeth as a tough on crime prosecutor in California, has signed on to the Marijuana Justice Act. It’s an in or out issue, and virtually all of the conceivable frontrunners have declared themselves in. Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Kirsten Gillibrand have all made marijuana legalization a focal point of their platforms.
And like those Democrats, Beto O’Rourke is framing legal weed as a way to reduce mass incarceration in the U.S. and its vast racial disparities. O’Rourke’s email to campaign supporters, the same list that netted him $80 million for his failed Senate run against the polarizing Ted Cruz, outlined his