Weed stocks surge as Kamala Harris vows to decriminalize pot in debate

Democratic presidential candidate former US Vice President Joe Biden (L) listens as US Democratic vice presidential nominee and Senator from California, Kamala Harris speaks to supporters at the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America's training center, October 8, 2020, in Phoenix, Arizona. - AFP

NEW YORK: U.S.-listed shares of major cannabis producers surged on Thursday after Democratic vice president nominee Kamala Harris said marijuana would be decriminalized at a federal level in the United States under a Biden administration.

During Wednesday night's debate with Vice President Mike Pence, Harris said she and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden would also expunge the criminal records of people convicted of marijuana-related offences in the past.