Here's a revised version of the content:
WASHINGTON—President Biden's proposal to reclassify marijuana as a less harmful substance marks a significant shift in administrative policy, aiming to appeal to young voters ahead of the upcoming election.
Biden faces criticism from young voters over his stance on Israel, particularly since the Hamas-led attack on October 7th, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli sources. Hamas and other Palestinian groups also took over 240 hostages. Palestinian officials report over 35,000 deaths in Gaza since the conflict began, mostly civilians. This has led to unrest on college campuses and negatively impacted Biden's poll numbers among some voters.
The move to relax marijuana regulations follows Biden's efforts to forgive billions in student loan debt and his push for stricter climate policies. These actions, developed through a meticulous process involving various federal agencies, are believed by Democrats to align well with the priorities of a key demographic for Biden.
Democratic pollster John Anzalone, who was Biden's pollster in 2020, stated, "Social issues play a significant role in electoral politics. We saw this with abortion in 2022, and we will again in 2024. Marijuana legalization will be on the ballot in states like Florida, influencing certain voters."
Anzalone believes the new policy will appeal to other demographic groups as well. "It's a broader issue," he said, suggesting it could energize those passionate about criminal justice reform. "This goes beyond just young people." Democrats are optimistic that a potential ceasefire agreement in the Middle East will ease tensions and provide an opportunity to win back parts of Biden's coalition that have become disillusioned due to the conflict.
Recent polls indicate that foreign policy is less of a priority for young voters compared to economic issues. In a recent Harvard Youth Poll of 2,010 Americans aged 18 to 29, only 9% felt the country was heading in the right direction. Economic concerns remain their top priority.
While Biden won the White House with strong support from young voters, recent surveys show him significantly underperforming in that demographic today. A Wall Street Journal national poll in February and a March survey of seven battleground states both showed Biden leading among voters under 30 by 10 points, with 50% support to Trump's 40%.
Lauren Hitt, a spokeswoman for the Biden campaign, expressed confidence in Biden's re-election, stating, "The president has been campaigning and delivering on exactly these policies for four years, all of which matter deeply to young people and the entire coalition that sent President Biden to the White House."
In April, the Biden administration proposed an initiative to reduce student debt for nearly 30 million Americans. The regulations are expected to be implemented in the coming months. Biden has already provided more targeted student debt forgiveness to four million Americans, totaling over $145 billion, although a separate effort to cancel debt for millions more was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2023.
Other policies appealing to young voters include stricter climate regulations, such as a policy from the Energy Department earlier this year that halted approvals for some liquefied natural gas exports, threatening several planned facilities. Biden praised the policy in January, calling the climate crisis "the existential threat of our time." The administration also issued rules last week cracking down on power plant pollution, which Rep. James Comer (R., Ky.) criticized as catering to left-wing climate activists at the expense of American citizens.
Biden also signed the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, which included approximately $1 trillion in tax credits, grants, and loans for clean energy.
Recent administration efforts, such as requiring airlines to issue refunds for delayed or canceled flights and banning employers from using noncompete contracts, are also popular with young voters, according to Aidan Kohn-Murphy, founder of Gen-Z for Change, a liberal group. However, he noted that celebrating these wins is difficult given the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza and crackdowns on pro-Palestinian protesters at some colleges.
Support for legalizing marijuana is strong among Americans overall, especially among young adults. A Gallup survey in October found that 70% of Americans believe marijuana use should be legal, a record high in Gallup's surveys since 1969. Support was particularly high among adults under 35, with 79% supporting legalization.
Similarly, a Pew Research Survey in January found that 71% of adults under 30 believe marijuana should be legal for both recreational and medical use, significantly higher than the 57% of all adults who share this view.
Biden's proposal to reclassify marijuana comes after his pardon of thousands of people convicted of marijuana possession under federal law in 2022. He also called for a review of whether marijuana should be reclassified, stating that it "doesn't make sense" for the government to regulate marijuana more strictly than cocaine or fentanyl.
The reclassification has sparked debate between officials at the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services. Last year, at the White House's direction, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug, alongside testosterone and ketamine, and obtainable with a prescription.