Delegates of the Democratic National Committee voted down a proposal to include the federal legalization of cannabis in the party’s 2020 platform on Monday. Platform committee delegate Dennis Obduskey of Colorado had introduced an amendment to include marijuana legalization in the platform, but the proposal was rejected by the committee with a vote of 105 to 60.
Several delegates spoke in favor of the legalization platform plank before the vote, including Stacey Walker, a county supervisor from Iowa, who referenced the words of civil rights activist and former Georgia congressman Rep. John Lewis in his comments.
“I’m imploring all of you to approach this with an open mind and heart. Do something big here,” Walker said to members of the platform committee via a video conference. “Take one small but meaningful step toward changing the course of history. If my Black life matters to you, you will consider this amendment. We want to get in good trouble today, and I urge you to do the right thing and support it.”
Draft Platform Supports Marijuana Decriminalization
Instead, the draft party platform, which is slated to be voted on by the close to 4,000 members of the full DNC prior to next month’s convention, calls for the decriminalization of cannabis.
This is the approach favored by likely Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.