Feb 11, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Kamala Harris supports marijuana legalization: It "gives a lot of people joy"

Sen. Kamala Harris. Photo: Mason Trinca/Getty Images

Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Kamala Harris, a junior senator from California, declared her support for legalizing marijuana at the federal level Monday on the syndicated radio show "The Breakfast Club."

Why it matters: In detailing her advocacy, Harris, who admitted in the interview that she had smoked a joint "a long time ago," joins a growing field of Democrats who back marijuana legalization.

  • Last May, Harris championed the Marijuana Justice Act introduced by Sen. Cory Booker, another 2020 Democratic presidential candidate.
  • Harris' comments follow those of Booker's, who kicked off his campaign earlier this month, calling for legalizing marijuana as a critical component of criminal justice reform.
  • Marijuana is presently legal in 10 states, while 33 states have legalized the substance for medicinal use and several additional states are considering legalization in 2019.

Go deeper: Kamala Harris officially launches 2020 bid

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