The cannabis has been suffering for the last two years…but do the presidential candidates really care?
The last two years has been brutal for the cannabis industry. Consumer use continues to climb, but the cost of doing business is outpacing the profit. Filled with mainly mom and pop small business owners, it has become tougher and tougher as more and more people consume. Â But does either political parties care and what are they actually going to do? Â The marijuana industry seeks positive signs from candidates, and more than just statements, they want sound policy.
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Legal states have reaped the benefits of making the plant safely available. Â ncreased tax revenue, a decreased in youth use, and a variable options for medical marijuana patients from addictive opioids. Â But the businesses themselves are battling high taxes, no tax benefits, increase in crime and a massive federal restrictions. Even with a growing customer base, hope is dwindling the government will act. And both parties have not been helpful.
Vice President Harris expressed support for legalizing marijuana, speaking publicly about where she stands for the first time she became the Democratic nominee.
“I just think we have come to a point where we have to understand that we need to legalize it and stop criminalizing this behavior,” Harris said during a nearly hourlong interview on the sports and culture podcast “All the Smoke” released Monday.
But what does it mean? Biden promised to help in 2020. The seasoned policy maker waited to the last moment to make the move, and then didn’t push the gas petal. While 2024 looked like a turning point year, nothing will happen. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) postponed their rescheduling announcement to December, after the election and a potential change in priorities, legalization actions, and executive orders.
Walz, as governor of Minnesota, saw the introduction of legal marijuana and how the state’s citizen’s embraced it in large numbers. But recently he shared he believed it should be a “states rights” issue but he still wants to Democrats to win Congress to help SAFE Banking.
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The GOP Presidential candidate has given a nod to the industry, but under his previous term, nothing happened. Party leaders including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) have made it clear they want a regression of marijuana legality. The Senate GOP blocked the SAFER BANKING ACT 7 times. And the chaos over the ousting of Kevin McCarthy as speaker ruined the last big chance before camping started.
It seems all the states want the revenue, but no political leader wants to support the growth of the industry. The industry is just hoping something will hold candidates to their promises.
