Politics. Marijuana. Science. COVID-19.

Let’s start with the first. Bernie Sanders has dropped out of the presidential race. Though he plans to remain on the ballots of the remaining primary states, he’s effectively suspended his campaign.

Joe Biden, in response, promptly extended an impassioned 800-word olive branch to Senator Sanders and his supporters, recognizing both for shaping important political dialogue. “Issues which had been given little attention — or little hope of ever passing — are now at the center of the political debate,” Biden wrote. “Income inequality, universal health care, climate change, free college, relieving students from the crushing debt of student loans. These are just a few of the issues Bernie and his supporters have given life to.”





Biden took it one step further and committing to include Bernie and his ideals as part of his administration stating, “I’ll be reaching out to you. You will be heard by me. As you say: Not me, Us.”

Joe Biden's letter to Bernie Sanders. “I’ll be reaching out to you. You will be heard by me. As you say: Not me, Us.”https://t.co/dtc7IOHCCV | #Bernie2020 #Biden2020 pic.twitter.com/B0WGTyYbtL — Andre F Bourque (@SocialMktgFella) April 10, 2020

At the same time, legions of devout Bernie supporters – dubbed “Bernie Bros” – remain doubtful any radical platform adoption will take form. All this has set the stage for what could be a powerfully unifying shift were Biden to reconsider his current stance on federal marijuana legalization, which remains an illicit drug at the federal level despite being medically legalized by 33 states, of which 11 also allowing for adult-use consumption.

Bernie on Marijuana

Senator Bernie Sanders has pledged to use his power as president to legalize cannabis via executive order within his first 100 days on the job, should he be elected. His plan was unveiled at 4:20 PM EST last October, and includes plans to vacate and expunge all past marijuana-related convictions in his platform proposal by creating an independent clemency board removed from the Department of Justice and placed in the White House.

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A big part of his marijuana plan includes reinvestment it into the marginalized, largely minority, communities hit hardest by the War on Drugs, provisioning that "federal funding will be provided to states and cities to partner with organizations that can help develop and operate the expungement determination process."

Sanders’ plan would allot $50 billion in tax revenue generated from the sale of legal marijuana and for these equalizing and reparation measures, $20 billion of which would be used to "provide grants to entrepreneurs of color who continue to face discrimination in access to capital." Three additional $10 billion sums would be apportioned to funds or grants that aid businesses or communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs.

Keeping Big Pharma and Big Tobacco from dominating a newly opened marijuana market is another essential part of Bernie’s federal legal marijuana approach. Companies who have formerly created cancer-causing products or have been found guilty of deceptive marketing would be banned from the industry, as would tobacco and cigarette.

To prevent marijuana market oligopolies taking form as they have in some already legal states (most notably Florida and California), market share and franchise caps will be put in place to prevent profiteering and consolidation under the Senator’s plan. “[A]s we move toward the legalization of marijuana, I don’t want large corporations profiting,” he said in an interview on Showtime’s Desus & Mero.

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