Medical Marijuana Voting Guide

[Jimbo]

This voter guide provides information on the positions of all Democratic and Republican presidential candidates on medical marijuana access. Hear the candidates in their own words commenting on this topic. We will continuously update these pages as we hear more from the candidates, so please check back for new developments.
Democrats

Sen. Joe Biden

“Yes! . . . But you know . . . [w]e have not devoted nearly enough science or time to deal with the pain management and chronic pain management that exists. There’s got to be a better answer than marijuana.” — U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (Del.), May 12, Canterbury, N.H.

Sen. Hillary Clinton

“Yes, I will [end the federal raids].” — U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), July 13, Manchester, N.H.

Sen. Chris Dodd

“I want to leave states to decide what the right thing is to do on this.” — U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd (Conn.), May 12, Merrimack, N.H.

Sen. John Edwards

“What I will do as president is, we will not be going in and raiding the use of marijuana for medical purposes in states that have legalized it.”
— Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), June 8, Derry, N.H.

Sen. Mike Gravel

“I would legalize marijuana.”
— Former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel (Alaska), May 1, C-SPAN

Rep. Dennis Kucinich

“Compassion requires that doctors be able to prescribe whatever they need to make sure that patients get relief from pain.”
— U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), August 15, Manchester, N.H.

Sen. Barack Obama

“I would not have the Justice Department prosecuting and raiding medical marijuana users. It’s not a good use of our resources.”
— U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), August 21, Nashua, N.H.

Gov. Bill Richardson

“We must protect the seriously ill; we certainly must protect these people. . . . Yes, [I will end the federal raids], with the proper safeguards and protections.”
— New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, May 7, Hooksett, N.H. Republicans

Sen. Sam Brownback

“I think that should continue to be the case. I do not think that we should legalize marijuana … I don’t agree with that, and I don’t think we need to for pain or for pain medication.” — U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.), June 5, Manchester, N.H.

Mayor Rudy Giuliani

“The FDA says marijuana has no additive medical benefit of any kind, that the illegal trafficking of marijuana is so great that it makes much more sense to keep it illegal. I will keep it illegal.” — Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, August 17, Merrimack, N.H.

Gov. Mike Huckabee

“I think I’d leave that to the DEA. Let me just be very blunt. I don’t support the idea. I think there are better ways to treat medical illnesses than the use of a drug that has really caused so many more people to have their lives injured than it has to necessarily have their lives helped.” — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, June 4, Francestown, N.H.

Gov. Duncan Hunter

“If you have a federal law, you have to enforce the law. And that’s my answer.” — U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (Calif.), June 5, Manchester, N.H.

Sen. John McCain

“I believe that marijuana is a gateway drug. That is my view and that’s the view of the federal drug czar and other experts . . . I do not support the use of marijuana for medical purposes. I believe there are other ways of relieving that pain and suffering.” — U.S. Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), August 11, Milton, N.H.

Rep. Ron Paul

“I would like people who are dying with cancer and AIDS to have access to whatever they want and make their own choices, especially under a state law.” — U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (Texas), August 19, Londonderry, N.H.

Gov. Mitt Romney

“I don’t want medicinal marijuana; there are synthetic forms of marijuana that are available for people who need it for prescription. Don’t open the doorway to medicinal marijuana.“ — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, July 25, Bedford, N.H.

Rep. Tom Tancredo

“It’s not about marijuana, it’s about states’ rights. The federal government has no right to interfere when a state makes that kind of decision . . . The federal government should stay the hell out of it.” — U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.), August 19, Londonderry, N.H.

Sen. Fred Thompson

"You know, there are federal laws involved and there's federalism issues also involved. It depends on a lot of different circumstances, and I just can't give you a definitive answer to that right now." — Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.), September 8, Stratham, N.H.

Candidates Positions on Medical Marijuana

[Dr. 215]

Very interesting.

[Jimbo]

Of course, this list has been narrowed down to two presidential candidates now.

I sure do like this guys response though...kind of cut-n-dry;

“I would legalize marijuana.”
— Former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel (Alaska), May 1, C-SPAN

[skinart82]

Almost every republican is so brainwashed with this Reffer Madness, marijuana is evil junk! My vote will NOT be going to the republicans this time around....unless it's Ron Paul of course. Lets go Obama!!!

[User]

President bush while campaining for his first regime said he felt that medical Marijuana was a states issue. that the states needed to decide for themselves.

i will be voting for obama and i really want to believe that he is what he appears to be.

about 3 years ago i was visiting friends in illinois and heard obama speaking on tv. i said "i know that voice, its johns voice, bobbys voice. he could be president some day. people thought i was nutz. now ted has said the same thing.

my hearing isn't as good as it once was. i hope i'm right.

[FreakNature]

“I would not have the Justice Department prosecuting and raiding medical marijuana users. It’s not a good use of our resources.” Barack Obama

This just doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling about his desire to end the war on people. He's right, but it really doesn't go far enough, nor do I think he will. Oh well.

[DaMagoMan]

Just because they aren't on the ballot, Don't mean sqwat!

Write Them In.

The Dems have already lost,
they are split and won't even show up to vote.
Gawd help us if McCain wins!

Ron Paul and Willie Nelson

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by DaMagoMan

Just because they aren't on the ballot, Don't mean sqwat!

Write Them In.

The Dems have already lost,
they are split and won't even show up to vote.
Gawd help us if McCain wins!

Ron Paul and Willie Nelson

I have thought that same thing about writing in Ron's name, but with him being so far out of it, I would hate to waste my vote on a loosing bet.
But, your right about McCain...being a POW doesn't mean he'll make a god president of our country no matter how commendable his POW status is.

I don't know folks, I'm really torn about this next presidential election, I just don't know what to do here, as I really don't trust any of them this go around. Thats the honest truth for me.

[skinart82]

I respect the shit out of what McCain did as a POW, But you're right...doesn't mean he's going to be a good president! If he makes it as president nothing will change for the better, because he's just going to keep goin down the same road as bush! And thats some bushshit if ya ask me.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by skinart82

I respect the shit out of what McCain did as a POW, But you're right...doesn't mean he's going to be a good president! If he makes it as president nothing will change for the better, because he's just going to keep goin down the same road as bush! And thats some bushshit if ya ask me.

He's just another LBJ/Richard Nixon wannabe if you want my opinion.
My respect for McCain "yes", my vote for him "no"...at least he did serve his country, no matter what people's opinions are about him, at least he didn't puss out like so many other presidents did...does anyone know where Bush was during Vietnam?...probably in collage protesting. And now look at him being just another republican war monger!