Smoke the Vote: Guide to legalize marijuana in the US!

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Upcoming Election

California Special Election: Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Races on Your Ballot

Race for U.S. Senate

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Adam Schiff (D) DECRIMINALIZE

Best known for leading the House impeachment investigation of Donald Trump, Adam Schiff has been more reticent on cannabis and criminal justice reform. He has typically voted well on cannabis bills, but has generally held off from co-sponsoring them. One exception is the STATES Act of 2018-9, a Trump-era bill that would have protected the legality of state marijuana laws.

Steve Garvey (R) MEDICAL USE

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Your Elected Officials

Governor

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Gavin Newsom (D) LEGALIZE, TAX, AND REGULATE

Newsom signed all the major cannabis reform bills that came to his desk in 2022, including those protecting employment rights and pain patients’ rights. He has been criticized for not pushing hard enough to reduce burdensome taxes and regulations on cannabis, but as part of this year’s state budget, he signed legislation to eliminate the cannabis cultivation tax and support equity businesses. He has long championed marijuana legalization, and convened a Blue-Ribbon panel on the topic while Lt. Governor.

Important Actions Taken:

Taking aggressive action to protect communities, consumers, and the environment alike, Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the creation of a new multi-agency, cross-jurisdictional taskforce of enforcement agencies designed to better coordinate agencies combatting illegal cannabis operations and transnational criminal organizations. (October 2022)

Lieutenant Governor

Eleni Kounalakis (D)

When asked whether or not she supports medical or recreational legalization, her campaign responded to Cal NORML, "California voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, and Eleni believes that now we need to make sure that the implementation of the law protects the public, especially our kids. Regulations must be put in place for a wide-range of aspects, from ensuring products are properly labeled, to setting up a banking system which keeps the industry from operating on an all-cash basis. Legalization poses other new challenges to public safety that must also be addressed, including a possible increase in people driving under the influence. Eleni believes we can develop effective regulatory practices to address these problems by imposing taxes, ensuring strict identification for purchases, and proposing and supporting bills that are specifically designed to protect our kids, and the public at large."

Attorney General

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Rob Bonta (D) LEGALIZE, TAX, AND REGULATE

Leading advocate for legal cannabis in Assembly.

U.S. Senate

Laphonza Butler (D)

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U.S. Senate

Alex Padilla (D) LEGALIZE, TAX, AND REGULATE DECRIMINALIZE

As secretary of state after California’s 2016 vote to legalize recreational marijuana, Padilla helped implement legalization by licensing cannabis businesses and creating an online portal to help migrate the state’s legacy medical cannabis companies into the new regulation area. To promote that service, Padilla appeared in a public service announcement with comedian Cheech Marin.

As state senator, Padilla voted to support employment protections for medical cannabis patients and opposed DEA raids on cannabis companies. Padilla has expressed support for the federal MORE Act.

In 2021, Padilla filed an amendment that would allow veterans to access medical cannabis through the VA system in states where it is legal and require the VA to research the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis for certain conditions.

In May 2022, Padilla joined a bipartisan effort requesting that congressional leadership include the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2021, which would allow state-legal cannabis business to access banking services, in the final version of competitiveness legislation currently being negotiated between the House and Senate.

U.S. House District 8

John Garamendi (D) LEGALIZE, TAX, AND REGULATE

Garamendi has been a reliable vote for cannabis bills, including the MORE Act, and co-sponsored the SAFE Banking Act.

State Senate District 3

Bill Dodd (D)

State Assembly District 11

Lori Wilson (D)

Excellent voting record in 2021-2.