What will marijuana policy look like under a Biden administration? As Biden and Harris prepare to take office amid a wave of marijuana legalization —four states approved legal recreational cannabis on Election Day—analysts say the fate of cannabis legislation rests more with Congress than the White House. Republican control of the Senate would likely stall far ranging moves such as federal legalization, which Democratic leaders have pledged to push through if they win the majority after the Georgia runoff. For his part, Biden’s official line is that he favors decriminalization and letting states decide on recreational use, while Harris has in the past supported federal-level legalization. In the meantime, states will continue to legalize pot on their own and move ahead with state-level regulatory structures.
Meanwhile, a roundup of studies on marijuana use shows that 30 percent of users have some level of cannabis use disorder, characterized by dependency and often, addiction. They also find increased risk of psychiatric disorders including psychosis and depression, as well as impaired cognitive functioning and driving. With the increasing availability of stronger forms of marijuana, these dangers may become more severe.
And finally, a University of Michigan study finds that nearly one-third of students who reported misusing prescription opioids as high school seniors between 1997 and 2000 later used heroin by age 35. This likely reflects the trend of overprescribing opioids, a major factor in the opioid epidemic.