10 Questions: Presidential Candidates on Medical Marijuana
December 19th, 2007Posted by Rebecca Saltzman
There’s a great online presidential forum that has asked 10 questions to each of the presidential candidates. Question #3 asks the candidates how they feel about medical marijuana, whether they would stop the DEA raids, and if they would change the laws. So far, one Republican and four Democrats have answered the questions. Here are there answers:
Mike Huckabee does a great job at dodging the question and even claims that the way to go about this would be for advocates to just change the laws (as if we weren’t trying, and as if Huckabee would have no influence over this if he was president):
Mike Gravel dodges the question in a completely different way, using the opportunity to bash the war on drugs and talk about broader decriminalization of marijuana:
Dennis Kucinich probably does the best job of answering the question directly, clearly stating that he would end the raids and that medical marijuana should be available to those who need it:
John Edwards states that he would end the DEA raids and ties medical marijuana into the broader issue of the Bush administration’s neglect of science, in favor of politics:
Barack Obama also voices support for medical marijuana, saying that if it’s safe it should regulated like other prescription drugs, though he takes jabs at patients who grow their own medicine:
So what do you think? Who dodged the question? Who answered it the best? Did any of these answers change who you’re going to vote for?
December 20th, 2007 at 9:59 am
For some reason, Ron Paul’s response was not included on this site:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JHS_y94H1Dk
He was direct and to the point, promising to stop raids on medical marijuana by federal agents.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Thanks for posting that link WiseWeasel. A bunch of candidates have spoken out about medical marijuana (Romney made some truly atrocious statements), but this blog post was just about those who had answered the 10questions.com challenge. Maybe we need to contact Paul and ask him to answer the questions, along with all the other candidates who have yet to answer (they have until the end of the year to do so).
December 27th, 2007 at 1:39 am
I am a medical marijuana patient in California so this issue is very important to me. I am not at all convinced any other candidate is serious when they say they will end the raids, and I was offended by Barack Obama’s suggestion that marijuana should only be offered in a pill form. Why on earth should I not be able to grow my own medicine? Why does a pharmaceutical company need to be able to profit in order for me to be medicated? That statement by Barack clearly shows his inexperience, not to mention his own hypocrisy as a past recreational user himself.
I am so sick and tired of hypocritical candidates that have used in the past, but yet deny that marijuana is dangerous and want to continue the war on drugs. The war on drugs is hurting patients like myself that just want a more natural and safe alternative to the expensive and dangerous pharmaceutical drugs.
Only Ron Paul has convinced me that he is compassionate for patients like myself. The Ron Paul rEVOLution is real people, and it is quickly taking this country by storm!
December 28th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Good to see this discussion happening here. No one has more power than the president to bring about safe access. We need some serious changes to happen in our country; yet it’s almost like our government is paralyzed. While I’m not convinced that any candidate can actually bring about these badly needed changes, my 1st pick to get the job done would be Dennis Kucinich. Unfortunately I don’t see him getting the Democratic nomination. Same with my second pick, the dark horse from New Mexico, Bill Richardson, whom we’ve already seen in action standing up for medical cannabis patients in his state; plus he’s got tons of experience, so you know he’s qualified. And my 3rd choice, well we’ll see, I’m still going between the front runners of the Democratic Party. I hope everyone out there makes a well informed decision in the upcoming presidential election…the future may depend upon it.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
I definately like to see that there is some people trying to get the word out about medical mj. According to mpp/granitestaters Ron Paul has a most realistic and sense to solve this problem and is also the only republican that will help the sick and dying. Althought there other candidates that will resolve this issue also.
January 18th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
What about the answers of Obana & Clintin?
January 19th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Dr. Ron Paul 4 President and “Lets Save the World”
January 21st, 2008 at 4:07 pm
So only Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich have addressed our causes positively.Neither one has a snowballs chance. Bill Richardson has already dropped out. Remember 8 yrs. ago Geo. W. while running for pres. “talking all about states rights,promising if elected would not let DEA get involved” The first of many lies. As we all know politicians will say almost anything to get elected.As a med patient here in Ca. I am suprised at Mr. Barrack’s views.I volunteer at a local dispensary, we have the DEA busting our chops sending out landlord letters and coming in the shop for pure harrassment T/G our city is MMJ friendly.This issue is of paramount importance to me in selection of the next pres.We need a REAL leget third party both Dems. and Reps. are the same crap
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 am
Winnie – Obama’s answer is posted above. Clinton didn’t respond.
Fred – I understand your skepticism about the current Democratic and Republican candidates, but there certainly is a difference between the candidates. Though I don’t think any of the candidates are huge medical marijuana supporters, some of them are willing to be flexible and to work with us. We just need to show them how important this issue is.
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
why n what due the working poor people making under 100.000. to do. we live paycheck to paycheck like most, pay taxes. and try to have a doctor help you is crazy,, MY DOC WILL do zip because of PA laws, but as soon as some state makes it legal we are moving there. i’m in my 50’s and weigh only 94 pounds due to tmj/fibro.. caused from auto accident. went into windshield 200 stitches broken bones, when will people who ask to be voted for due something.. its a weed… farmers could grow it instead of hay its uses are great from using hemp for clothes, rope, ect. and help people to eat..???? why vote nobody cares!
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:17 am
I e-mailed Senator Clinton’s web page and her e-mail team replied in 30 minutes.
They said that the Senator’s responsibility is to her New York constituents and that her priority is to answer their e-mails first. I was told that I should contact
my local elected officials and pose that question to them. I let them know that I
really want to vote for her. Being a Medical Marijuana Patient, I suffer horrible Migraines and Marijuana is the only Medicine that helps. I asked if the Senator would continue the legacy of making war on Medical Marijuana Patients as her husband had. Probably not the best choice of words on my part, but you wonder if these people have ever suffered real pain or agony in their body, I hope that by the end of the first year of the new administration that the Federal Government will change the classification of Marijuana to schedule 2 or 3.
To all you who suffer like me, I salute you.
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Robert – you should try contacting the campaigns of the candidates instead of their current Senate or House offices. You can find campaign contact info here: http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/08PresidentialCandidates
January 29th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
[...] campaign focuses on candidates that have already made supportive statements on medical marijuana: Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, former Senator John Edwards, and [...]
January 30th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
with 47 million uninsured people at this moment and the prospect of more seniors with chronic and terminal illness entering the uninsured/underinsured ranks, there will be more interest in the Economy of medical marijuana. simply put, we won’t be able to afford the drugs the pharmaceutical industry, and its legislators. would have us dependent upon. the time for drug to drug efficacy and comparative research is now.
i am a hospice nurse. the medications we use to treat the sym[toms of terminal disease have multiple side effects which we must try to abate with yet more drugs. the most common symptoms are pain, depression, nausea and anorexia- morphine is most commonly used to treat terminal pain but also increases nausea and anorexia. we give them reglan, compazine or haldol-from which they develop psudeoparkinson’s and suddenly they cannot walk without falling- creating more pain and anxiety. they are soon confined to bed which adds to their depression. how very sad that one God given herb could give them the freedom to spend their dying time in “self directed life closure” rather than symptom management in trial by error medication titration. every week i spend more time with my patient’s discussing their medication management than how they are coping with their disease and dying.
February 3rd, 2008 at 3:29 am
[b]Hillary Clinton Pledges to End Medical Marijuana Raids[/b]
7,17,07 By: Michael Hess
http://bbsnews.net/article.php/20070717133158914
During a Manchester campaign on July 13, 2007 Len Epstein, a volunteer for Granite Staters for Medical Marijuana (GSMM), told Sen. Clinton, “Twelve states allow medical marijuana, but the Bush administration continues to raid patients,” to which she responded, [b]“Yes, I know. It’s terrible.” Epstein then asked, “Would you stop the federal raids?” Sen. Clinton responded firmly, “[u]Yes, I will[/u].”[/b]
January 19th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Marijuana should only be offered in a pill form? That doesn’t really make any sense to me. What’s the difference if someone wants to smoke something or swallow it? It should be offered the way the client wants, not in a specific forced form. That’s not decriminalization. I don’t believe we will see decriminalization in our lifetimes, even with groups such as LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) working hard at changing the current laws. Some people really do need medicinal marijuana, some are simply lying to obtain medical cards so they can legally smoke marijuana. For those who really need it, let’s let them keep it. For those that are obtaining cards fraudulently, let’s punish both them and the doctors. That’s the way I see it.