e Republican nominee Donald Trump
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker Hits the Campaign Trail to Support President Biden and Tout Cannabis Policy Reforms
Over the weekend, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker made a bold move by taking to the campaign trail to stump for President Joseph Biden. And what better time to do so than on the 420 weed high holiday? Pritzker used this opportunity to highlight the significant economic benefits that cannabis policy reform can bring to states that legalize marijuana for adults.
At a campaign stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday, Pritzker spoke about the success of cannabis legalization in Illinois and how it has positively impacted the state’s revenue, businesses, and job creation. According to a report from Michigan Advance, the governor stated, “I wanted to come up here on 4/20, because we, too, legalized cannabis in the state of Illinois, and I know that’s been a boon to not only state revenues but also to business and job creation in the state of Michigan.”
Pritzker didn’t shy away from using some puns to get his message across, adding in a 420 tweet, “To be blunt: we’re proud to have sparked a new industry when we legalized adult-use cannabis.”
Joined by Michigan Democratic state Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Pritzker also praised the progress made in Michigan since 2018, saying, “You all have turned a state that was – let’s face it, a red state – into a purple state, and now a blue state. There are so many other states in the country that should be following Michigan’s lead.”
The governor acknowledged that the progress made in Michigan was not easy and encouraged the public to volunteer for the campaign and canvass voters to spread the Democratic message. He compared it to an eighth-grade dance, saying, “Sometimes you have to knock on three or four doors before you get somebody you can really talk to. Because you’re willing to do that, you’re going to have somebody to dance with. You’re going to bring them to the dance.”
Biden’s Support for Cannabis Policy Reform
In 2022, President Biden issued an executive order pardoning thousands of low-level marijuana convictions and directed his administration to review the federal prohibition of cannabis. In August 2023, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine called on the Drug Enforcement Administration to change the classification of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.
This move is significant as the Schedule I classification indicates that a drug has no accepted medical value and a high propensity for abuse. Other drugs currently listed under Schedule I include heroin and LSD. By rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III, it would be recognized as having legitimate medical uses and would be subject to less strict federal drug laws.
In January, the Department of Health and Human Services determined that marijuana is eligible for the less strict classification under federal drug laws, according to agency documents. As part of the review, researchers with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that credible evidence shows that marijuana has legitimate medical uses and fits the criteria for rescheduling under the Controlled Substances Act.
Pritzker Encourages Support for Biden’s Reelection
At his Grand Rapids campaign stop, Pritzker also reminded the crowd that President Biden is busy supporting his bid for reelection against former president and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. He urged the public to continue supporting the Democratic message and to volunteer for the campaign to ensure a victory in the upcoming election.
With the success of cannabis policy reform in Illinois and Michigan, it’s clear that more states should follow suit. And with the support of President Biden and leaders like Governor Pritzker, it’s only a matter of time before we see more progress in the legalization of marijuana across the country.
