Where every 2020 presidential candidate stands on marijuana - recreational, expunging criminal records and more

2020 hopefuls are embracing pot like never before

Presidential candidates are embracing marijuana like no other time in American history, potentially paving the way for major reforms.

Democrats vying for a shot at unseating Donald Trump in the White House have virtually all supported some form of legislation that would ease restrictions on the drug nationwide.

While several progressives have called for the total legalisation of marijuana, including recreational use, others have sponsored measures that would remove it from the Controlled Substances Act list of Schedule 1 drugs — a move that would allow it to undergo testing in federally-funded studies and institutions.

The reported sea change among Democrats towards the prohibition of marijuana arrives as Donald Trump and his administration continue implementing a hard-line stance on drug charges. The president has previously suggested the death penalty should be considered as a punishment for drug dealers.

Here are where the 2020 Democrats stand on marijuana.

Kamala Harris: Supports legislation that would expunge small possession and personal use charges from federal criminal records. Marijuana “gives a lot of people joy,” the senator told a radio programme in one of her first campaign interviews. “We need more joy.”

Elizabeth Warren: Sponsored a bill to prevent federal government interference with state laws that legalise marijuana on a local level.

Cory Booker: Introduced a measure for the federal legalisation of marijuana. “The war on drugs has not been a war on drugs, it’s been a war on people,” the senator said, “and disproportionately people of color and low-income individuals.”

Amy Klobuchar: Supports legislation preventing federal interference with state laws on marijuana.

Tulsi Gabbard: Introduced Marijuana Data Collection Act and other pro-marijuana legislation that would withhold federal funding for states enforcing strict laws on the drug.

Bernie Sanders: Says marijuana legalisation “will be a major step forward in the struggle for a fairer, less racist criminal justice system.”

Jay Inslee: Supports legalisation on a recreational level after previously opposing similar measures as Washington governor.

John Hickenlooper: Also supports bills allowing recreational use after previously opposing 2012 ballot measure as Colorado governor.

John Delaney: Co-sponsored legislation to remove marijuana from the Schedule 1 drugs list.

Sherrod Brown: Supports decriminalisation and marijuana for medical use.

Kirsten Gillibrand: Sponsored multiple pro-marijuana bills, including the Marijuana Justice Act. “I know some people are saying that we should wait until there’s more research before changing the laws,” she said during a Senate hearing in 2016, “but the one thing blocking the research is the law.”

Beto O’Rourke: Calls for US to “end the federal prohibition on marijuana and expunge the records of those who were locked away for possessing it.”