Nov 19, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Biden clarifies stance on marijuana

Photo: David Becker/Getty Images

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the sole top 2020 Democrat to oppose the federal legalization of marijuana, clarified his stance on the drug Monday.

Driving the news: Biden was criticized over the weekend for saying he opposes the federal legalization of marijuana because "there's not nearly been enough evidence that has been acquired as to whether or not it is a gateway drug." He argued to leave it to the states, but he supports legalizing medical marijuana and does not believe possession of the drug should be a crime.

  • Marijuana legalization has been a near-universal "yes" among 2020 Democrats.
  • Many argue that criminalizing the drug has placed unfair penalties on communities of color and that its symptoms are not serious enough to justify its legal repercussions.

What he's saying: Biden outlined his stance on the issue in a tweet:

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