Presidential candidates are embracing marijuana like no other time in American history, potentially paving the way for major reforms.

Democrats vying for a shot at unseating Donald Trump in the White House have virtually all supported some form of legislation that would ease restrictions on the drug nationwide.

While several progressives have called for the total legalisation of marijuana, including recreational use, others have sponsored measures that would remove it from the Controlled Substances Act list of Schedule 1 drugs — a move that would allow it to undergo testing in federally-funded studies and institutions.

The reported sea change among Democrats towards the prohibition of marijuana arrives as Donald Trump and his administration continue implementing a hard-line stance on drug charges. The president has previously suggested the death penalty should be considered as a punishment for drug dealers.

Here are where the 2020 Democrats stand on marijuana.

Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Show all 23 1 /23 Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Hillary Clinton The 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State says she is “still considering” whether she will run again. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions’ testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Beto O’Rourke The former Texas congressman told Oprah Winfrey that he “has been thinking about running for presidency”, but stopped short of formally announcing his bid to run in 2020. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Vice News Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that “healthcare should be a right, not a privilege.” Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a “special meaning” for the Latino community in the US. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual advisor has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Kerry The former secretary of state has said he is still thinking about whether to run. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Michael Bloomberg The entrepreneur and former New York mayor– with a net worth of around $50bn – has said he will decide by the end of February whether to seek the presidency. AFP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Howard Schultz Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has not yet ruled out running for president in 2020, despite criticism that his bid could help re-elect Mr Trump by dividing the Democrat vote. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Holder The former attorney general has said he will decide in “the next month or so” whether to run as a 2020 presidential candidate. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Swalwell The California congressman said he is “ready to do this” and will decide before April whether to run. MSNBC Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Terry McAuliffe The former Virginia governor, who worked to elect Democratic governors during 2018 midterms, said there was a “50 per cent” chance he would run. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Sherrod Brown The Ohio senator is still undecided about whether to run for president in 2020. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Mitch Landrieu The former New Orleans mayor said he doesn’t think he will run for president, but “never say never”. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Kamala Harris: Supports legislation that would expunge small possession and personal use charges from federal criminal records. Marijuana “gives a lot of people joy,” the senator told a radio programme in one of her first campaign interviews. “We need more joy.”

Elizabeth Warren: Sponsored a bill to prevent federal government interference with state laws that legalise marijuana on a local level.

Cory Booker: Introduced a measure for the federal legalisation of marijuana. “The war on drugs has not been a war on drugs, it’s been a war on people,” the senator said, “and disproportionately people of color and low-income individuals.”

Amy Klobuchar: Supports legislation preventing federal interference with state laws on marijuana.

Tulsi Gabbard: Introduced Marijuana Data Collection Act and other pro-marijuana legislation that would withhold federal funding for states enforcing strict laws on the drug.

Bernie Sanders: Says marijuana legalisation “will be a major step forward in the struggle for a fairer, less racist criminal justice system.”

Jay Inslee: Supports legalisation on a recreational level after previously opposing similar measures as Washington governor.

John Hickenlooper: Also supports bills allowing recreational use after previously opposing 2012 ballot measure as Colorado governor.

John Delaney: Co-sponsored legislation to remove marijuana from the Schedule 1 drugs list.

Sherrod Brown: Supports decriminalisation and marijuana for medical use.

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Kirsten Gillibrand: Sponsored multiple pro-marijuana bills, including the Marijuana Justice Act. “I know some people are saying that we should wait until there’s more research before changing the laws,” she said during a Senate hearing in 2016, “but the one thing blocking the research is the law.”