Kamala Harris convicted almost 2,000 for marijuana violations and sent many to prison. Now she laughs at ‘Kamala Kush’ weed variety and says pot smokers shouldn’t be jailed
Deputy Director Kamala Harris appeared surprised Tuesday after learning that a special variety of marijuana had been named after her, even though she has a record of sending marijuana smokers to jail.
Late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel revealed the details to the vice president of the marijuana strain called ‘Kamala Kush’.
‘Real? Serious? “I didn’t know that,” she replied, laughing.
Alibi Cannabis in Oregon lists the variety is described as ‘earthy and earthy’ and contains ‘a unique flavor for an active high.’
Kimmel said he was surprised the strain’s developers hadn’t sent her a sample, but Harris said she wasn’t interested.
Kamala Harris appears with ABC host Jimmy Kimmel
“I can’t touch that,” she replied, laughing.
Harris reiterated her newfound position that marijuana users should not be prosecuted and sent to prison.
“Look, I think we both agree that people shouldn’t go to jail for smoking weed,” Harris said.
However, as district attorney in San Francisco, Harris continued more than 1,900 marijuana convictions.
Harris has since endorsed the legalization of marijuana, despite his opposition to a 2010 ballot measure in California that would legalize recreational use of the drug for adults.
During her interview with Kimmel, Harris denounced past efforts to discourage people from using marijuana.
“There was a time when people said, marijuana is a gateway drug,” Harris continued. “This is a failed policy, right?”
Harris said the resources used by law enforcement to enforce marijuana laws should be diverted to counseling.
Kamala Harris denounced previous attempts to stop people from using marijuana, criticizing them for describing it as a ‘gateway drug’ for more harmful substances
Kamala Harris seemed surprised when she heard a strain of marijuana had been named after her
“Resources need to be better targeted and will be better focused on dealing with opioid addiction and what we need to do around fentanyl,” she said.
“Getting more resources for mental health and mental health services, right? That’s a smarter way.’
Marijuana activists remain critical of Harris, who finally endorsed the idea of legal marijuana in 2018, just before her failed presidential campaign.
“Listen, I think it brings a lot of people joy. And we need more joy,” she said in 2019, drawing on her previous position on legalizing the drug.
US Vice President Kamala Harris gestures as she speaks at a campaign event
Vice President Kamala Harris arrives for a fundraising trip in California
Harris hosted rapper Fat Joe at the White House for an event in February talk about the problem of incarcerating marijuana users.
“She has absolutely no moral authority whatsoever to speak on this issue,” marijuana legal reform advocate Steve DeAngelo told DailyMail.com at the time.
During Harris’ campaign, she celebrated her use of marijuana in college in an interview with Charlemagne the God on The Breakfast Club.
‘I have. And I inhaled. I did inhale,” she said, admitting that she “smoked a joint.” “It’s been a long time, but yeah.”
