Joe Biden is standing firm in his opposition to full marijuana legalization, as a joint Biden-Sanders task force issues policy proposals to bridge the gap between the Democratic Party’s moderate and progressive voters. Progressives have been pushing the presumptive Democratic nominee to embrace nationwide legalization, but he has resisted out of concern for public health—and the lack of scientific evidence on the drug’s impact on teens as well as adults. Under the joint policy statement, Biden endorses decriminalization of pot, federal legalization of medical use, and letting the states decide on recreational use. This is a win for Biden’s thoughtful and scientifically sound go-slow policy until we can assess the risks and dangers of marijuana legalization.
Meanwhile, a crackdown on online sales of e-cigarettes to minors is moving closer after the U.S. Senate passed a bill banning such purchases, opening the way for full adoption by Congress. The measure would also implement strict rules for sales to adults—including age verification—in an effort to control the teen vaping and nicotine epidemic.
And finally, an initiative in Oregon to use tax revenues from marijuana sales to fund drug treatment will be on the ballot in November, but critics say it doesn’t go far enough to expand treatment and also reduces penalties for possession of heroin and meth.