Sen. Kamala Harris, weeks into her campaign for president, not only acknowledged that she has smoked pot, but said she isn't opposed to federal legalization of marijuana.
"I think it gives a lot of people joy and we need more joy," Harris said, laughing, during an interview on the influential hip-hop radio show The Breakfast Club Monday morning.
Harris was being interviewed by Charlamagne Tha God when she admitted she smoked a joint in college. "I did inhale," she said, in a reference to President Clinton's famous equivocation when asked more than 25 years ago on the campaign trail if he had ever smoked weed.
Harris denied accusations that, as a prosecutor, she opposed marijuana legalization. "Half my family's from Jamaica," she said. "Are you kidding me?"
In her new book, Harris explicitly calls for marijuana to be legalized and regulated at the federal level. She writes: "Something else it's past time we get done is dismantling the failed war on drugs ー starting with legalizing marijuana."
Legal recreational use of cannabis, already the law of the land in 10 states, is becoming something of a litmus test for Democratic 2020 candidates, who consider it part of criminal and social justice reform.
Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, founder of BrainTrust Founders Studio joins Cheddar News to talk about the importance of supporting Black beauty and wellness founders.
Damali Peterman, founder and CEO of Breakthrough ADR, joins Cheddar News to discuss what Black professionals are up against in the workplace this year.
David Malott, founder and chief architect at AI PlanetWorks joins Cheddar News to discuss the release of its augmented reality NFTs for the metaverse called 'TERA.'
Jess Hunichen and Emily Ward, co-founder of Shine Talent Group join Cheddar News to talk about The BodCon conference and how it empowers men and women to feel confident.
Alia Kemet, vice president of creative and digital at McCormick, joins Cheddar News to discuss Frank's RedHot releasing an edible NFT ahead of the Super Bowl.
Xiaohua Yang, professor of international business and director of the China Business Studies Initiative at the University of San Francisco, joins Cheddar News to talk about the history of Lunar New Year.
After a number of tragic subway incidents, the MTA is facing increased pressure to install subway platform screens to help prevent injury or death. However, according to an earlier report from the MTA, installing these prevented measures isn't feasible. New York City Council Member Keith Powers, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Across the country, states are working to redraw their congressional lines in what is often known as gerrymandering. These news lines are expected to determine the balance of power between Democrats and Republicans within the next decade. Senior Counsel for the Brennan Center's Democracy Program, Michael Li, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
AT&T announced earlier today it is spinning off its media properties in WarnerMedia in a merger with Discovery in a $43 billion deal.Scott Rostan, founder and CEO at Training The Street, joined Cheddar to talk about what the unwinding of the telecom giant's Time Warner media properties means for investors. "I think the investor sentiment is they're digesting the new information, and they're looking into the dividend, especially the reduction of the dividend," said Rostan, noting the transaction allows AT&T to focus on its core telecommunications business.