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Kamala Harris-led MORE Act to legalize marijuana nationally supported by majority of Republicans, finds poll

According to the Data for Progress poll, the act is supported by 69 percent Democrats, 41 percent Independents and 54 percent Republicans

According to a new poll, Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris' proposal to legalize marijuana nationwide has gained a majority of conservative support. The Data for Progress poll found that 54 percent of Republicans would support the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, or MORE Act, that was introduced in the Senate by Harris. The act, if signed into law, would decriminalize marijuana, meaning that it would no longer be listed under controlled substances. As a result, certain marijuana offenses might be expunged from an individual's record. The act also advocates for the creation of a trust fund from a national tax on marijuana were the collected sum would go toward communities affected by the war on drugs. It is still awaiting approval. 

The poll took into account the votes of 1,235 voters and was conducted from May 8 to 9. It has a margin of error of approximately 2.7 percent. It was seen that the MORE Act received 62 percent of support overall from all voters. Among the supporters of the act, 69 percent were Democrats, 41 percent were Independents and 54 percent were Republicans. On the other hand, 23 percent of Democrats, 29 percent of independents and 39 percent of Republicans disagreed that the use and sale of marijuana should be legalized by the federal government.

According to the poll, 58 percent of the participants said they agree that the federal government should legalize the use and sale of marijuana for adults across the country, while 31 percent said they disagree, and 11 percent said they were not sure.

So far, eleven states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana in the US, namely Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. On Wednesday, August 19, the third night of the Democratic National Convention, Harris officially became the first Black and Indian-American woman on a major party presidential ticket after she accepted the Democratic Party's vice-presidential nomination, as she pledged to tackle the "structural racism" that still posed a threat to African-Americans across the country. "That I am here tonight is a testament to the dedication of generations before me," Harris said in her moving speech. "Women and men who believed so fiercely in the ​promise​ of equality, liberty, and justice for all. They ​organized​, marched​, and ​fought ​— not just for their ​vote​, but for a ​seat​ at the table."

Legalizing marijuana has always been one of the top things on her to-do list. "The War on Drugs was an abject failure. It's time to legalize marijuana and bring justice to people of color harmed by failed drug policies. Grateful for @RepJerryNadler’s partnership on this issue. I look forward to getting our bill one step closer to becoming law," she tweeted in November last year. 

She was one of the original co-sponsors of Cory Booker’s Marijuana Justice Act, which was the first legalization bill that attempted to categorize legalization in the broader context of racial and social justice. She not only signed on to the legislation but publicly campaigned for its success. 

''The fact is​,​ marijuana laws are not applied and enforced in the same way for all people. That’s why I'​ve signed onto @CoryBooker’s Marijuana Justice Act​ to make marijuana legal at the federal level​. It’s the smart thing to do​,'' she tweeted then.