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Newport Beach -- If any other U.S. Senate candidate proposed legalizing marijuana, voters might question what that politician had been smoking. But the California hopeful making that pitch doesn't get those questions - at least not very often.
He is Jim Gray, a Republican-appointed Superior Court judge from conservative Orange County who said he's never used illegal drugs. The 59-year-old former Republican became a Libertarian last year and is now that party's nominee to unseat Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer.
"Every vote I get will be a vote to get the federal government out of the marijuana business," he tells audiences.
Gray addresses other issues, but his call for an end to federal prohibitions on marijuana is generating more buzz for the Libertarian Party than it's received in years.
"He adds a lot of gravitas to the party because of his position," said Mark Selzer, California Libertarian Party southern vice chairman.
Eliminating drug laws, along with other "victimless" crimes, has long been part of the Libertarian Party's advocacy for personal freedom.
In California, its platform has attracted less than 1 percent of registered voters to join the party. But a handful of its candidates have won local elections, including Mendocino County District Attorney Norm Vroman and Calaveras County Supervisor Tom Tryon.
With so little support, spokesmen for the state's two leading Senate candidates said Gray's candidacy would have little effect on the race.
Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)
Author: Laura Mecoy -- Bee Los Angeles Bureau
Published: Sunday, May 30, 2004
Copyright: 2004 The Sacramento Bee
Contact: opinion@sacbee.com
Website: Northern California Breaking News, Sports & Crime | The Sacramento Bee
He is Jim Gray, a Republican-appointed Superior Court judge from conservative Orange County who said he's never used illegal drugs. The 59-year-old former Republican became a Libertarian last year and is now that party's nominee to unseat Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer.
"Every vote I get will be a vote to get the federal government out of the marijuana business," he tells audiences.
Gray addresses other issues, but his call for an end to federal prohibitions on marijuana is generating more buzz for the Libertarian Party than it's received in years.
"He adds a lot of gravitas to the party because of his position," said Mark Selzer, California Libertarian Party southern vice chairman.
Eliminating drug laws, along with other "victimless" crimes, has long been part of the Libertarian Party's advocacy for personal freedom.
In California, its platform has attracted less than 1 percent of registered voters to join the party. But a handful of its candidates have won local elections, including Mendocino County District Attorney Norm Vroman and Calaveras County Supervisor Tom Tryon.
With so little support, spokesmen for the state's two leading Senate candidates said Gray's candidacy would have little effect on the race.
Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)
Author: Laura Mecoy -- Bee Los Angeles Bureau
Published: Sunday, May 30, 2004
Copyright: 2004 The Sacramento Bee
Contact: opinion@sacbee.com
Website: Northern California Breaking News, Sports & Crime | The Sacramento Bee
