Where Do The Four Presidential Nominees Stand On Marijuana Policy?

An In-depth Look At What the Presidential Nominees Are Saying About Marijuana Legalization

Where do the four presidential nominees stand on marijuana policy? Information and quotes from the Marijuana Policy Project. “The MPP believes that the greatest harm associated with marijuana is prison, we focus on removing criminal penalties for marijuana use, with a particular emphasis on making marijuana medically available to seriously ill people who have the approval of their doctors. We know that real change takes more than good ideas, so MPP is all about getting results — changing policies and laws.”

Hillary Clinton- Democratic Nominee

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received the Democratic Party’s nomination for president on July 26, 2016.

Clinton has expressed support for legal access to medical marijuana and more research into the medical benefits of marijuana. In 2014, when asked about the legalization laws approved in Colorado and Washington, she said “states are the laboratories of democracy” and that she wants to see what happens in those states prior to taking a position in support or opposition to such laws.

During the October 13 Democratic presidential debate she was asked whether she has taken a position on state legalization laws now that a year has gone by, to which she replied, “No.” Instead, she expressed support for laws that allow legal access to medical marijuana, as well as concern about U.S. incarceration rates, noting that she does not believe people should be imprisoned for marijuana use. In an interview the following day, she expressed support for allowing states to adopt their own marijuana policies and said she would not want the federal government to interfere in them. On November 7, 2015, Clinton said she supports reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II to remove barriers to researching its medical benefits.

“I think that states are the laboratories of democracy, and four states have already taken action to legalize, and it will be important that other states and the federal government take account of how that’s being done, what we learn from what they’re doing. I think that the states moving forward is appropriate and I think the federal government has to move to make this more available for research that they can then distribute to interested people across our country. I do think on the federal level we need to remove marijuana from the Schedule I of drugs, move it to Schedule II, which will permit it to be the basis for medical research because it’s important that we learn as much as possible. And since it was a Schedule I drug we haven’t done that research. A lot of experts in the field are telling me we’ve got to learn a lot more.” WBZ NewsRadio, January 25, 2016

Donald Trump- Republican Nominee

Businessman and television personality Donald Trump received the Republican Party’s nomination for president on July 19, 2016.

In 1990, Trump said he favored legalizing all drugs, but more recently he has said he opposes legalizing and regulating marijuana for adult use. He supports legal access to medical marijuana, and he believes states should be able to set their own marijuana policies with regard to adult use.

Bill O’Reilly said legalized marijuana is a $1 billion industry in Colorado and claimed all the “dealers” and “pushers” are going there to “load up on it” and then “zoom around the country selling it.” He then asked Trump if it concerns him, to which Trump responded: “That’s a real problem.”

O’Reilly asked Trump what he would do about it, and Trump responded: “There is another problem. In Colorado, the book isn’t written on it yet, but there is a lot of difficulty in terms of illness and what’s going on with the brain and the mind and what it’s doing. So, you know, it’s coming out probably over the next year or so. It’s going to come out.”

O’Reilly continued to ask what Trump would do about it, and Trump responded: “I would really want to think about that one, Bill. Because in some ways I think it’s good and in other ways it’s bad. I do want to see what the medical effects are. I have to see what the medical effects are and, by the way — medical marijuana, medical? I’m in favor of it a hundred percent. But what you are talking about, perhaps not. It’s causing a lot of problems out there.

O’Reilly then called medical marijuana a “ruse,” to which Trump responded: “But I know people that have serious problems and they did that they really — it really does help them.” The O’Reilly Factor, February 12, 2016.

Dr. Jill Stein- Green Party Nominee

Physician and 2012 Green Party Presidential Nominee Jill Stein is widely reported to be the presumptive nominee for the Green Party, which will officially nominate a candidate at its national convention scheduled for August 4-7, 2016.

Dr. Stein supports legalizing and regulating marijuana for medical and adult use nationwide.

“As a medical doctor and public health advocate, people ask me all the time if marijuana is dangerous. Yes, marijuana is dangerous – because it’s illegal. It’s not inherently dangerous. It’s certainly less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, which are perfectly legal. The real danger of marijuana is the violence of the underground drug economy created by prohibition. Legalizing marijuana will end that violence, much like ending alcohol prohibition ended the violence of the illegal alcohol economy. It’s time to take marijuana off the black market, end crime and violence related to marijuana trafficking, stop wasting money and ruining lives by prosecuting victimless crimes, reduce prison populations, increase tax revenue, allow sick people their medicine, let farmers grow marijuana and hemp, and give responsible adults their freedom by legalizing it!”

“As President, one of my first actions would be to order the DEA and the Justice Department to cease and desist all attempts to harass or prosecute medical marijuana clinics or other legitimate marijuana-related businesses that are operating under state laws. I would also direct DEA to remove marijuana from Schedule 1, the most dangerous category of drugs, and place it in a more appropriate category as determined by medical science. … Like Colorado, we can regulate marijuana in a similar way to alcohol once it’s legal. This would prevent billions of dollars in profits from pouring into the black market, and would greatly reduce the violence associated with illegal marijuana sales, including the drug wars ravaging Mexico and Central America. … Make no mistake, ending marijuana prohibition would be a huge win for freedom and social justice, and a major step towards the just, Green future we deserve.” Jill Stein 2016 Presidential Campaign Website, April 20, 2016

Gary Johnson- Libertarian Nominee

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson received the Libertarian Party’s nomination for president on May 29, 2016.

Former Gov. Gary Johnson supports legalizing and regulating marijuana for medical and adult use. He has expressed support for legalizing marijuana at the federal level, removing it from the federal drug schedules, and allowing states to legalize and regulate marijuana for medical and adult use. He endorsed state ballot initiatives to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. The former governor has openly discussed his personal use of medical marijuana, and he served as the CEO of a medical marijuana business before stepping down to run for president.

“Over time, the politicians have ‘criminalized’ far too many aspects of people’s personal lives. The failed War on Drugs is, of course, the greatest example. Well over 100 million Americans have, at one time or another, used marijuana. Yet, today, simple possession and use of marijuana remains a crime — despite the fact that a majority of Americans now favor its legalization… “Imagine [the Founding Fathers’] shock to learn that the government has decided it is appropriate to tell adults what they can put in their bodies — and even put them in jail for using marijuana, while allowing those same adults to consume alcohol and encouraging the medical profession to pump out addictive, deadly painkillers at will.” Gary Johnson 2016 Presidential Campaign Website, accessed May 25, 2016

“The truth is that most marijuana smokers are people we associate with every day–law abiding, tax-paying, productive citizens. Bad personal decisions should not be criminal if they don’t harm anyone else. It is and should always be illegal to drive while you’re impaired or to commit crimes. But people will always use drugs. We can’t change that. Our real focus should be on reducing death, disease, crime and corruption. These problems are all related to drug prohibition, not drug use. But what I’ve found is that most people base their position on this issue on emotion instead of facts. The truth is that marijuana is safer than alcohol.” Seven Principles, p. 73-74, August 1, 2012, via OnTheIssues.org

Make sure and Vote, by November 8th 2016.