Good morning. We're covering bipartisan support for marijuana legalization — plus, accusations of fascism, Israeli bombs in Lebanon and #MeToo in Japan.
High supportTwelve 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 shiftAmericans' 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 impactWith 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.
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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.
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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
Make mattar paneer. Use a to-do list app. Stay dry with a good raincoat.
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.
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Thursday, October 24, 2024
The Morning: America’s embrace of marijuana
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