The Morning: America’s embrace of marijuana

Plus, accusations of fascism, Israeli bombs in Lebanon and #MeToo in Japan.

View in browser|nytimes.com October 24, 2024 By German Lopez Good morning. We're covering bipartisan support for marijuana legalization — plus, accusations of fascism, Israeli bombs in Lebanon and #MeToo in Japan. In Rome, Ga.  Nicole Craine for The New York Times High support Twelve years ago, mainstream politicians opposed marijuana legalization. Recreational use was forbidden even in the most liberal states. Today, even conservative states are considering the policy — including North Dakota, South Dakota and Florida, through ballot initiatives this November. And both presidential contenders now favor legalization. Kamala Harris confirmed her support this month. Donald Trump says he will vote for Florida's initiative. He also backs easing federal restrictions on weed. This is the first time even one major-party candidate has publicly supported legalizing pot. The shift was unusually quick for American politics; it's very rare for the bipartisan consensus to flip in less than a generation. One reason politicians have changed their minds so quickly is that they are following a shift in voters' views. In today's newsletter, I'll look at how public opinion evolved — and why Harris's and Trump's positions could matter even in states that have already legalized marijuana. A quick shift Americans' views on domestic policy are largely stable. Consider guns: Congress passed the last major federal gun measure, the Brady Act, three decades ago. Since then, views on whether firearm laws should be made more or less strict have barely moved, according to Gallup. This is typical for most domestic policy issues, researchers have found. Marijuana legalization is an exception. In 2000, 31 percent supported it; now 70 percent do. The new consensus formed long before politicians caught up. Most Democrats have supported legalization since the late 2000s. Most Republicans have since 2017, according to Gallup. Why did public opinion change so quickly? One explanation is exhaustion with the war on drugs. Decades of punitive policy did not get great results. The United States is in the middle of its deadliest drug overdose crisis ever (although overdose deaths are now falling). People want reform, and one place to start is a drug that most Americans see as less dangerous than legal substances like alcohol and tobacco. The shift has continued even as legalization has produced its own problems. In states where marijuana is legal, people have reported more addiction and other serious medical issues that are linked to daily marijuana use. (See some of those harms.) Still, public opinion remains in favor of legal pot — and now Democratic and Republican leaders are catching up. Federal impact With many states legalizing marijuana — perhaps a majority, after this year's election — you may wonder whether it matters that the presidential candidates have come around to legalization. After all, many states addressed the issue before federal officials caught up. But federal law still shapes marijuana policy at the state level. For example, many banks, which are regulated at the federal level, remain wary of holding money from marijuana businesses. In many ways, the law treats those transactions the same way it does bank transactions from a drug cartel or another criminal enterprise. This leaves dispensaries open to robbery because many can't take credit cards and can't find a secure place to store all their cash. Federal regulation can also help address some of the problems that have appeared with legalization. Congress will ultimately decide whether federal marijuana laws are loosened or repealed. But the next House and Senate will be able to make such changes with confidence, knowing that they probably won't face a veto from the White House. Related: A jar of legal weed can cost $60 in New York. One reason? Federal prohibition. THE LATEST NEWS Democratic Campaign Vice President Kamala Harris Erin Schaff/The New York Times When asked in a CNN town hall if she believes Trump is a fascist, as his former chief of staff alleged to The Times, Harris said yes. Harris was also asked about her changes in position on fracking and other issues. She said the country deserved a president "who is not afraid of good ideas and does not stand on pride," adding, "The important thing is to build consensus to fix problems." Read more takeaways. A leading historian of fascism thought the label was overused. He's changing his mind. Eminem and Violent J of Insane Clown Posse are among the celebrities who have recently endorsed Harris. The authorities arrested an Arizona man in connection with shootings at a Democratic Party campaign office. He had dozens of guns and a grenade launcher at his home The head of The Los Angeles Times's editorial board resigned after the paper's owner blocked an endorsement of Harris. Republican Campaign The Justice Department warned Elon Musk's super PAC that his plan to give voters $1 million might violate federal law. It's illegal to pay people to register to vote. The country singer Jason Aldean said he'd voted early for Trump. Can Harris or Trump bring back manufacturing jobs? We looked at the data. Voting Marjorie Taylor Greene turned a Georgia voter's simple mistake into a conspiracy theory. Other Trump allies are reviving false claims about voting machines. Georgia's secretary of state said that a foreign cyberattack had failed to shut down the state's website to request absentee ballots. International Sirajuddin Haqqani Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times Afghanistan's most wanted militant is trying to remake himself as a statesman. Diplomats are shocked — and intrigued. Read The Times's interview with him. The Group of 7 nations will use frozen Russian assets to back a $50 billion loan to Ukraine, essentially forcing Russia to financially support Ukraine. Israel bombed the ancient port city of Tyre in Lebanon. It issued a major evacuation order there. Fake X accounts linked to China are attacking Republican members of Congress, accusing them of corruption and promoting their electoral opponents. North Korea's decision to dispatch troops to help Russia may complicate the Kremlin's relationship with China. Liberal Party lawmakers in Canada are urging their leader, Justin Trudeau, to step down as prime minister. They worry his unpopularity could hurt them in the next election. Other Big Stories Gina Forbush, of Gig Harbor, Wash. M. Scott Brauer for The New York Times Boeing's largest union rejected a labor contract and extended a strike. The Biden administration has been trying to rebuild chip manufacturing. But Intel, a cornerstone of its plan, is in trouble. The U.S. government fined Goldman Sachs and Apple nearly $90 million for failing to properly handle fraud and refunds for Apple Card users. A 4-year-old starved to death at home in New York. Read how the city missed the signs. Opinions "Show you're going to fight for them": Four economists discuss what the presidential candidates' policies should be. It's the inflation, stupid: Adam Seessel writes about why the working class wants Trump back. The Mets' run this year gave Kathleen O'Brien's autistic son a hobby he can hold onto when she's gone. Here are columns by Nicholas Kristof on lead poisoning and Pamela Paul on settler colonialist theory. The Times Sale starts now: Our best rate for readers of The Morning. Save now with our best offer on unlimited news and analysis as part of the complete Times experience: $1/week for your first year. MORNING READS Shrek, a Przewalski's horse, in Aurora, Colo. Daniel Brenner for The New York Times Today's great read: How did two of the world's rarest horses get lost? Table talk: Can't hear your friends in a noisy restaurant? Headphones could help. Normies: Lana Del Rey married a swamp tour guide. See other celebrities who have married regular people. 11 stories tall: A new mural in Brazil uses materials from environmental disasters to protest corporate destruction of wildlife. A divided house: For politically opposed couples, the election can't end soon enough. Social Q's: "My sister chose my birthday for her scheduled C-section. I'm annoyed!" Haunted: Even skeptical real estate agents say they think twice about the existence of ghosts. Lives Lived: Fernando Valenzuela won his first eight starts as a Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, igniting the "Fernandomania" phenomenon and helping him win the 1981 Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards. He died at 63. SPORTS Julia Hawkins in 2019. Brit Huckabay/National Senior Games Association, via Associated Press Sprinter: Julia Hawkins, who took up running after her 100th birthday and went on to set world records in the 100-meter dash, died at 108. N.B.A.: The Los Angeles Clippers opened a new arena with an overtime loss to Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns. College football: Bond was set for two former Penn State players who are awaiting a hearing on rape charges. N.F.L.: The Kansas City Chiefs acquired the receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans. ARTS AND IDEAS Dana Carvey and Maya Rudolph on "Saturday Night Live." Will Heath/NBC There is no shortage of political impersonations this campaign season. Maya Rudolph has returned to "Saturday Night Live" to play Kamala Harris; Sebastian Stan embodies Donald Trump in the movie "The Apprentice." But Dana Carvey's impression of President Biden has stood out. "Carvey doesn't mimic Biden as much as capture his energy and give something that feels like genuine insight," Alissa Wilkinson writes. Read about how. More on culture Over two decades on TV, Seth Meyers has crafted a precise but genial comic persona. In a new stand-up special, he reveals his acerbic side. "Black Box Diaries," a bracing documentary about the #MeToo movement in Japan, will be released in the U.S. and Britain tomorrow. Late night hosts mocked Trump's comments about Hitler. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Linda Pugliese for The New York Times Make mattar paneer. Use a to-do list app. Stay dry with a good raincoat. GAMES Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangram was enjoyment. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. —German P.S. A Times reporter has followed Trump through swing states and drive-throughs. Read about his experience. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving The Morning, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. 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