As the mayor of South Bend, Buttigieg didn’t implement any legislation on cannabis. However, he signed an ordinance to prohibit businesses from selling synthetic cannabinoids. In a tweet, he stated, “Synthetic marijuana gets far less attention than opioids, but it too can be lethal. Our community continues to work proactively on the issue.”

Compared to his fellow Democratic nominees, Buttigieg hasn’t been too vocal on cannabis legalization. However, he supports the legalization of cannabis, criminal justice reform, and the removal of criminal records for cannabis-related convicts. Speaking to the Boston Globe, Buttigieg stated, “The safe, regulated, and legal sale of marijuana is an idea whose time has come for the United States, as evidenced by voters demanding legalization in states across the country.”

Buttigieg believes that black Americans across the US have been disproportionately arrested for cannabis-related offenses. To end this racial disparity, he’s supporting the legalization of marijuana.