The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has been actively promoting the Biden-Harris administration’s marijuana reform platform in anticipation of the upcoming November election. However, they are facing criticism for suggesting that cannabis has already been rescheduled and the country's "failed approach" to marijuana has ended. 

In a recent post on X, the DNC claimed that the administration has “reclassified marijuana,” marked with a green checkmark emoji to indicate completion. They further asserted that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have succeeded in “ending our failed approach to marijuana,” again using a checkmark.

While Biden directed a review into cannabis scheduling, leading to the Justice Department proposing the move of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the process is still ongoing. Public comments on the proposed rule closed last week, with over 40,000 submissions. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will now review these submissions, including requests for an administrative hearing, before potentially finalizing the rule.

The DNC’s claim that the administration has ended the “failed approach to marijuana” is seen as an overstatement, given that cannabis would remain federally illegal even if rescheduled. Despite Biden issuing mass pardons for federal cannabis possession offenses, advocates highlight that individuals remain incarcerated for marijuana-related convictions.

Vice President Harris also faced backlash in February after claiming the administration had “changed federal marijuana policy” in a video targeting young voters. Morgan Fox, political director of NORML, commended the DNC for recognizing public support for cannabis reform but stressed that marijuana remains a Schedule I substance and would still be federally criminalized even if moved to Schedule III.

Fox suggested that to appeal to a broader voter base, the White House should expand pardon eligibility and grant clemency to victims of federal prohibition. He also recommended instructing federal law enforcement to deprioritize enforcement against low-level violations and cannabis-related activities legal under state laws.

Earlier this month, the DNC highlighted Biden’s marijuana pardons and rescheduling moves, while calling for broader reform to expunge prior records in its draft platform. However, unlike in 2020, the party stopped short of promoting broader cannabis decriminalization. 

While Biden had campaigned on decriminalization, he has been largely silent on the issue since his election, despite Harris advocating for broader marijuana legalization in a closed-door discussion with pardon recipients in March.

Democrats are also contrasting Biden’s marijuana policy with that of Trump. The DNC’s platform notes that the Trump administration threatened federal prosecution for marijuana cases in states where it was legal by rescinding Obama-era guidance that urged discretion in enforcing prohibition for state-legal cannabis activities.

The suspended Biden campaign had emphasized these differing policy positions, framing Biden as the better choice for cannabis reform supporters through email blasts and online advertisements.

With Harris now the presumptive Democratic nominee following Biden’s withdrawal from the reelection bid, her stance on marijuana policy has gained renewed attention. Recently, Trump criticized Harris’s prosecutorial record on cannabis, claiming she jailed “thousands and thousands of Black people” for cannabis offenses, though her record is more nuanced.

In my opinion, while the Biden-Harris administration has made notable strides in addressing marijuana policy, it’s essential for the DNC to present a realistic view of the progress. Overstating achievements may lead to public disillusionment, especially among advocates who seek comprehensive reform. The administration should focus on actionable steps, such as expanding pardons and reducing enforcement priorities, to build trust and demonstrate genuine commitment to cannabis policy reform.