PoliticsMarijuanakamala harris2020 election

Kamala Harris Wants To Legalize Weed: 'It Gives A Lot Of People Joy'

The presidential hopeful told a New York City radio show that she tried pot in college, adding, "And I inhaled."
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By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has drawn a line in the sand with other presidential hopefuls: a green one.

On Monday, Harris told the hosts of the New York City radio show “The Breakfast Club” that rumors that she didn’t support legalization were completely false.

“That’s not true,” she told the show’s host Charlamagne Tha God. “Half my family is from Jamaica, are you kidding me?”

Harris later added: “I think it gives a lot of people joy, We need more joy in the world.”

The Democratic senator also admitted to smoking a joint in college and made a subtle dig at President Bill Clinton by adding, “and I inhaled” ― a reference to a comment Clinton made during the 1992 campaign when he said he tried cannabis, but “didn’t inhale it.”

Harris wasn’t always so high on pot legalization.

BuzzFeed notes that when Harris was district attorney of San Francisco in 2010, she opposed Proposition 19, which would have made California the first state to legalize marijuana.

Harris also opposed recreational legalization in 2015, but supports a proposed bill to decriminalize the drug by fellow senator and 2020 candidate Cory Booker (D-N.J.), according to The Hill.

An October poll by the Pew Research Center suggests that 62 percent of Americans favor legalization of cannabis.

You can see Harris discuss pot in the clip below.

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Before You Go

What The Legal Marijuana Industry Looks Like
Strains of Kaboom and Blue Mystic!(01 of12)
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The two strains (the latter of which is pictured here) are among those most popular at Northern Lights Natural Rx, says co-owner Eva Woolhiser. But when it comes to edibles, she said customers will go for "anything." (credit:Nothern Lights Natural Rx)
The Ominously-Named 'Death Star' Strain!(02 of12)
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Owner Justin Jones of Dank Colorado: "Our Death Star [strain] has been really popular." (credit:Dank Colorado)
And Blue Daddy and Mr. Pink Too!(03 of12)
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"Our in house strains like Blue Daddy and Mr. Pink (pictured here) have been really popular,” Mile High Medical Cannabis store manager Sean Barbas said. "It’s been nuts” (credit:Sean Barbas)
'Euphoric' Cannabis Concentrate!(04 of12)
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At The Health Center, owner Tiffany Goldman said a product called Shatter was the top choice among recreational customers before it sold out. Officially known as a cannabis concentrate, it's a form of hash and "according to most people it's more euphoric.
Blue Kudu Chocolate!(05 of12)
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The edible has been especially popular at Kine Mine, but customers shouldn't get in over their heads. "We’ve been warning people about the potency," CEO and founder Theran Snyder said. (credit:Bluekudu.com)
Pop Rocks Candy Bars!(06 of12)
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"Edibles have been flying off the shelves," Denver Kush owner Darin Smith said. "We’ve found particular success with the Incredibles Fireworks bar. It’s got chocolate mixed with pop rocks and the packaging is just great." (credit:Incredibles)
Weed Flowers!(07 of12)
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“Cannabis flowers have been flying out the door," Evergreen Apothecary co-owner Tim Cullen said. "People have been waiting two hours for just two minutes in the store and couldn’t be happier for it.” (credit:Tim Cullen)
Weed Sodas!(08 of12)
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THC-infused sodas are displayed for sale in a cooler at The Clinic, a Denver-based marijuana dispensary with several outlets. (credit:AP)
Something Called a TKO Bar, Whatever That Is!(09 of12)
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"The TKO bar is most popular amongst patients," The Greener Side Owner Hank Borunda wrote in an email to HuffPost. (credit:Hank Borunda)
Here's What A Weed Menu Looks LIke!(10 of12)
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A recreational marijuana menu and price list sits on a counter at 3D Cannabis Center. (credit:AP)
And Some Normal Bagged Weed!(11 of12)
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Packages of marijuana labeled for recreational use are spread out on a counter at Northern Lights Cannabis Co in Edgewater, Colorado on January 1, 2014. (credit:Seth McConnell/The Denver Post via Getty Images))
And Of Course, Just Plain, Old Weed Cigarettes!(12 of12)
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Different strains of marijuana are displayed for sale at The Clinic in Denver. (credit:AP)
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