The 2016 presidential field is beginning to take shape, and some of the candidates have revealed their stance on marijuana legalization.
Below is a roundup of what some of the declared presidential candidates have said about marijuana. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
HILLARY CLINTON (DEMOCRAT)
The former first lady, secretary of state, and U.S. senator has openly stated that marijuana has medical value and that she wants to see states move forward with their own laws. Her comments on marijuana include:
• “I think we need to be very clear about the benefits of marijuana use for medicinal purposes.”
• “I don’t think we’ve done enough research yet, although I think for people who are in extreme medical conditions and who have anecdotal evidence that it works, there should be availability under appropriate circumstances.”
“On recreational, you know, states are the laboratories of democracy. We have at least two states that are experimenting with that right now. I want to wait and see what the evidence is.”
TED CRUZ (REPUBLICAN)
The U.S. senator from Texas opposes any marijuana legalization because the substance is federally illegal. His comments on marijuana include:
• “The Obama administration’s approach to drug policy is to simply announce that across the country, it is gonna stop enforcing certain drug laws. I think most disturbingly, watching President Obama’s approach to drug laws is that he hasn’t tried to start a discussion, a dialogue about changing the laws. He simply decreed he’s not gonna enforce laws he doesn’t agree with.”
RAND PAUL (REPUBLICAN)
The U.S. senator from Kentucky is one of the only current candidates who actually worked to reform marijuana laws. For instance, he is an original sponsor of a bill that would effectively end the federal war on medical marijuana, but opposes marijuana legalization.
• “I’m not really promoting legalization, but I am promoting making the penalties much less severe and not putting people in jail for 10, 20, 30 years.”
• On marijuana legalization: “I would let states choose. And I don’t know what’ll happen, whether it’s going to end up being good or bad. But I would let the states choose because I believe in federalism and states’ rights.”
On marijuana in general: “Even though it may not kill you I don’t think it’s good for you. It’s not good for studies, it’s not good for showing up for work” and “people who use marijuana all the time lose IQ points.”
MARCO RUBIO (REPUBLICAN)
The U.S. senator and former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives opposes legalization and decriminalization. His comments on marijuana include:
• “We live in a country that already has problems with substance abuse. We already see the impact that alcoholism is having on families, on drunk driving, on all sorts of things. And now we’re gonna add one more substance that people can use?”
• “When something is legal, implicitly what you’re saying, ‘it can’t be all that bad. Cuz if it’s legal it can’t be bad for you.’ The bottom line is I believe that adding yet another mind-altering substance to something that’s legal is not good for the country.”
• “Marijuana is illegal under federal law. That should be enforced. I understand that states have decided to legalize possession under state law, and the trafficking, the sale of these products. I mean, that’s a federal crime.”
This article appears in May 7-13, 2015.
I would like to believe this ends the Federal Governments Ban on Medical Marijuana. Opens up it research as well.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-medical-pot-20141216-story.html
This a good reason to wait on the outcome of decision before we jump off a cliff with ” Regulate Marijuana Responsibly”
Screw those damn stoners, they all belong in prison for life, especially the sick ones who take the devil’s weed for health reasons! All they want to do is sit around getting high all day, claiming they are sick. Boohoo!
Imagine the nerve of a full grown consenting adult consuming CANNABIS! The horror is beyond belief and unimaginable!!!
In Response To Joe Smith’s Comment,
Name calling and stereotyping. It’s all that prohibitionists have left to offer society since virtually every piece of marijuana propaganda out there has been thoroughly debunked, and completely dismissed by a smarter than prohibitionists thought public.
Nobody can provide a real reason to continue the “War on Marijuana” because there isn’t one.
You know, a little live and let live goes a real long way in ensuring a very long, stress and anger free life. If you don’t like marijuana, then by all means don’t use it. Allow others to make their own choices about marijuana.
The government has no business attempting to legislate morality by creating victim-less marijuana “crimes” because it simply doesn’t work and has already cost the taxpayers a fortune.
In the prohibitionist’s world, anybody who consumes the slightest amount of marijuana responsibly in the privacy of their own homes are “stoners” and “dopers” that need to be incarcerated in order to to protect society.
In their world, any marijuana use equates to marijuana abuse, and it is their God given duty to worry about “saving us all” from the “evils” of marijuana use.
Who are they to tell us we can’t choose marijuana, the safer choice instead of alcohol for relaxation, after a long, hard day, in the privacy of our own homes?
People who use marijuana are smart, honest, hard working, educated, and successful people too, who “follow the law” also.(except for their marijuana consumption under it’s current prohibition of course) .
Not the stereotypical live at home losers prohibitionists make us out to be. We are doctors, lawyers, professors, movie stars, and politicians too.
Several Presidents of The United States themselves, along with Justin Trudeau, Bill Gates, and Carl Sagan have all confessed to their marijuana use. As have a long and extensive list of successful people throughout history at one point or other in their lives.
Although that doesn’t mean a dam thing to people who will make comments like “dopers” and “stoners” about anybody who uses the slightest amount of Marijuana although it is way safer than alcohol.
To these people any use equals abuse, and that is really ignorant and full of hypocrisy. While our society promotes, advertises, and even glorifies alcohol consumption like it’s an All American pastime.
There is nothing worse about relaxing with a little marijuana after a long hard day than having a drink or two of alcohol.
So come off those high horses of yours. Who are you to dictate to the rest of society that we can’t enjoy Marijuana, the safer choice over alcohol, in the privacy of our own homes?
We’ve worked real hard our whole lives to provide for our loved ones. We don’t appreciate prohibitionists trying to impose their will and morals upon us all.
Has a marijuana user ever forced you to use it? Probably not. So nobody has the right to force us not to either.
Don’t try to impose your morality and “clean living” upon all of us with Draconian Marijuana Laws, and we won’t think you’re such prohibitionist hypocrites.
Legalize Nationwide! Support Each and Every Marijuana Legalization Initiative!
The “War on Marijuana” has been a complete and utter failure. It is the largest component of the broader yet equally unsuccessful “War on Drugs” that has cost our country over a trillion dollars.
Instead of The United States wasting Billions upon Billions more of our tax dollars fighting a never ending “War on Marijuana”, lets generate Billions of dollars, and improve the deficit instead. It’s a no brainer.
The Prohibition of Marijuana has also ruined the lives of many of our loved ones. In numbers greater than any other nation, our loved ones are being sent to jail and are being given permanent criminal records which ruin their chances of employment for the rest of their lives, and for what reason?
Marijuana is much safer to consume than alcohol. Yet do we lock people up for choosing to drink?
Even The President of the United States has used marijuana. Has it hurt his chances at succeeding in life? If he had gotten caught by the police during his college years, he may have very well still been in prison today! Beyond that, he would then be fortunate to even be able to find a minimum wage job that would consider hiring him with a permanent criminal record.Let’s end this hypocrisy now!
The government should never attempt to legislate morality by creating victim-less marijuana “crimes” because it simply does not work and costs the taxpayers a fortune.
Marijuana Legalization Nationwide is an inevitable reality that’s approaching much sooner than prohibitionists think and there is nothing they can do to stop it!
Legalize Nationwide! Support Each and Every Marijuana Legalization Initiative!
Brian Kelly B Bizzle
I agree with your posts however I take exception with pass every Legalization proposal as a blind standard. I have read the “REGULATE MARIJUANA RESPONSIBILY” and I believe it wont past several constitutional conflicts leaving just a licensing and tax collection. Taking Medical out of the equation leaves honest neurological patients outside again. and the rules are not in just what are you voting for I vote no.
should be funny when elderly folks with glaucoma can use medicare prescription drug benefit to get some Maui Wowy
I don’t know about guacamole but they already spend hundreds of millions to get Niagra.
I’m surprised that Hillary didn’t say it was O.K. as long as you don’t inhale.
This is political hornswagle; the politicians said the same thing in the 1960’s, there is not enough research! Now that was over 50 years ago. Now if over 150,000,000 million Americans have tried and used Marijuana you would think if it was a serious health issue it would be self evident by now. Where are all the dead bodies? How many come into the Pima County Morgue every week from Marijuana poisoning? How many are on Skid Row from Marijuana poisoning?
This is just a side step to keep Marijuana illegal as the political system and powers to be have a vested interest in keeping it illegal. What would the Judges, Lawyers, Criminal Justice System and Arizona Prison System do for money if Marijuana were legal? What would happen to the Police Budgets? Marijuana is their Cash Cow………
The rank and file Citizen is fed up with these ridiculous Marijuana laws and they need to be thrown into the trash pit were they belong. The American People are going to smoke Marijuana no matter what the government says as it is one of their favorite pastimes………… The fools in Washington can beat their fists on their desk all the want too as the rank and file Citizen has no confidence in them and does not give a damn what they think in this matter anyway.