Kamala Harris Picks Pro-Cannabis Minnesota Governor as Running Mate

Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota’s pro-cannabis legalization Gov. Tim Walz to join her on the Democratic presidential ticket Aug. 6.

Walz has served as governor since January 2019 and made Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize adult-use cannabis when he signed legislation into law in May 2023.

“We’ve known for too long that prohibiting the use of cannabis hasn’t worked. By legalizing adult-use cannabis, we’re expanding our economy, creating jobs, and regulating the industry to keep Minnesotans safe,” Walz said when he signed the legislation. “Legalizing adult-use cannabis and expunging or resentencing cannabis convictions will strengthen communities. This is the right move for Minnesota.”

Minnesota, which holds 10 electoral votes in the 2024 presidential election, is a state that “leans” Democrat, according to NPR.

In announcing Walz as her running mate, Kamala said on social media, “As governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his.”

Harris took the spotlight as the Democrats’ 2024 presidential candidate less than three weeks ago when President Joe Biden announced he dropped out of the race on July 21 and endorsed Harris.

Harris’ VP selection comes 22 days after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump picked Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance as his running mate. Ohio has 17 electoral votes that are “likely” to go to the GOP candidate, according to NPR. Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin are the critical battleground states.

While the national media continues to cover inflation and prices as a cornerstone issue in the U.S. during the lead-up to the election, immigration, health care and the economy are central issues in nearly every presidential race. But with the White House’s current process for rescheduling cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act still playing out, the nation’s prohibition policies represent unprecedented prominence in the 2024 race.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is reviewing more than 40,000 public comments before issuing a final rule to reclassify cannabis. The Health and Human Services Department recommends a Schedule III listing.

RELATED: 43,000 Comments Filed on Cannabis Rescheduling Proposal as Public Period Closes

And Harris remains vocal about where she stands on cannabis reform: “I just need to say it; we need to legalize marijuana,” she said before a closed-door White House roundtable discussion on criminal justice reform in March.

Also a supporter of cannabis reform, Walz introduced an adult-use legalization proposal in January 2022 as part of his state budget. On April 20 of that year, he said on social media, “It’s time to legalize adult-use cannabis and expunge cannabis convictions in Minnesota.”

Now, as Minnesota aims to launch a commercialized adult-use cannabis marketplace by the beginning of 2025, the state’s program includes the establishment of a Cannabis Expungement Board to carry out automatic expungement provisions for those with lower-level cannabis offenses. Walz appointed James Rowader, the director of people and culture of the American Civil Liberties Union, as the board’s director in February.

Although Minnesota’s cannabis policies are just starting to take shape, Walz has championed justice and equity throughout his tenure as governor, according to Leili Fatehi, partner and principal at Minnesota-based consultancy Blunt Strategies. Fatehi played a key role in advocating for and shaping the state’s adult-use legalization policies as the campaign manager for pro-cannabis group MN is Ready.

“Under his leadership, Minnesota achieved a historically progressive policy agenda, including a nation-leading framework for cannabis legalization,” Fatehi said in a statement provided to Cannabis Business Times. “His ability to understand and address the sensibilities of voters in middle America is unparalleled. He recognized that Minnesotans were ready for, and would embrace, a progressive, justice-oriented, and anti-monopolistic approach to cannabis legalization. This vision and foresight are precisely what we need as federal policy undergoes the significant changes we anticipate.”

Fatehi said she’s excited about the future of progressive policies under the Harris-Walz presidential ticket.

Before becoming governor, Walz was a U.S. House representative from 2007 to 2019, including a stint as the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

During his time as a ranking member, Walz sponsored the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018, legislation that aimed to authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct and support research on the efficacy and safety of cannabis for veterans with chronic pain or post-traumatic stress disorder in the VA’s health care system.

The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee advanced the legislation that year.

In addition, Walz also co-sponsored the Industrial Hemp Farm Act of 2015, legislation that intended to federally legalize hemp by amending the Controlled Substances Act to exclude “industrial hemp” from the definition of cannabis.

He also supported myriad other cannabis, hemp and cannabinoid reform efforts during his 12 years in Congress.

After Harris announced Aug. 6 that she picked Walz as her 2024 presidential running mate, Walz said on social media that it’s the “honor of a lifetime” to join Harris’ campaign.

“I’m all in,” he said. “Vice President Harris is showing up the politics of what’s possible. It reminds me a bit of the first day of school. So, let’s get this done, folks!”