Kamala Harris announces campaign support for crypto & cannabis

With her “Opportunity Economy” pitch, the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris appears to be more accepting of cryptocurrency.

On Oct. 14, she met with a group of Black entrepreneurs in Erie, Pennsylvania, where her agenda focused on endorsing Black-owned small businesses, as well as regulating cryptocurrency and legalizing cannabis at the federal level.

In a statement to a local NPR affiliate in New Hampshire, Cedric Richmond, who co-chairs the Harris campaign, explained that the vice president’s announcement is part of her “Opportunity Economy” commitment.

Richmond mentioned that Harris aims to boost voter support among Black men by promising to create an economy “where Black men are equipped with the tools to thrive, to buy a home, provide for our families, start a business, and build wealth.”

If elected, Harris would be the second Black president and first woman in the office, even as she sought to downplay her identity on the campaign trail.

The vice president’s support from Black women remains strong, at about 83 percent.

As her campaign has progressed, her image as part of a purported US anti-crypto regime seems to have softened.

According to a recent report, Chris Larsen, co-founder of Ripple, donated approximately $1 million in XRP to the Harris-Walz 2024 presidential campaign.

Some people regard Harris as a pro-crypto candidate eager to work on bipartisan legislation for regulating digital assets and the cryptocurrency industry. However, not everyone in the community is convinced by the Harris campaign’s supposed “crypto pivot.”

Documents on the Harris campaign website related to the Erie, Pennsylvania event use distinct wording. They claim that individuals who “own” cryptocurrency will receive protection, indicating her approach prioritizes preserving cryptocurrency ownership rather than limiting or abolishing it.

“Supporting a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and other digital assets so Black men who invest in and own these assets are protected.”

However, she has faced backlash for her statement, as comments on her X post demonstrate. One user remarked, “Your team’s lack of due diligence around what meaningful crypto regulation would look like and instead posting vague bullet points is embarrassing and frankly shameful.”

Another user commented, “Kamala’s pandering to black men is insulting to all Americans, especially black men. She’s supposed to be helping all Americans. Instead, she’s targeting only the people walking away from her. That’s not what leaders do. Shame on Kamala.”