Pubdate: Thu, 07 May 2015
Source: Tucson Weekly (AZ)
Copyright: 2015 Tucson Weekly
Contact:  http://www.tucsonweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/462
Author: Dan Kingston

POLITICAL GREEN

A Presidential Candidate Run-Down on Marijuana

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."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom