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Updated: Presidential Candidates’ Stances on Marijuana

Presidential Candidates Marijuana 2016

The 2016 presidential field is continuing 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.

Ben Carson (Republican)

A retired neurosurgeon who has never held elected office and is against marijuana and its legalization. His comments on marijuana include:
Told ABC News that marijuana legalization “should be completely off the table” and that he has “no problem with medical marijuana usage, and there are ways that it can be done that are very appropriate.”
“Marijuana is what’s known as a gateway drug. It tends to be a starter drug for people who move onto heavier duty drugs – sometimes legal, sometimes illegal – and I don’t think this is something that we really want for our society. You know, we’re gradually just removing all the barriers to hedonistic activity.”

Carly Fiorina (Republican)

The former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, who has never held elected office, opposes ending prohibition but supports the right of states to legalize marijuana without federal interference. Her comments on marijuana include:
“I respect Colorado’s right to do what they did. They are within their rights to legalize marijuana and they are conducting an experiment that I hope the rest of the nation is looking closely at. I believe in states’ rights. I would not, as president of the United States, enforce federal law in Colorado where Colorado voters have said they want to legalize marijuana.”
“I remember when I had cancer and my doctor said, ‘Do you have any interest in medicinal marijuana?’” She stated, “I did not.”

Mike Huckabee (Republican)

The former Arkansas governor and Baptist pastor is against legalization and said he would not stop the DEA from raiding and arresting patients and providers in states where medical marijuana is legal. His comments on marijuana include:
“I’m going to leave it up to the DEA whether they feel like there is a person who is being arrested because they are suffering from AIDS or because they really are doing something to significantly violate drug laws.”

Bernie Sanders (Democrat/Independent)

The U.S. senator and former House member from Vermont is running for the Democratic presidential nomination and co-sponsored the States’ Rights to Medical Marijuana Act, a bill to reschedule marijuana and provide greater protections for medical patients. His comments on marijuana include:
“I’m going to look at the issue [marijuana legalization]. It’s not that I support it or don’t support it. To me it is not one of the major issues facing this country. I’ll look at it.”
“We have been engaged in [the war on drugs] for decades now with a huge cost and the destruction of a whole lot of lives of people who were never involved in any violent activities.”

Hillary Clinton (Democrat)

Marijuana IconThe 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)

Marijuana IconThe U.S. senator from Kentucky is one of the only current candidate who has 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.”