Drug Policy

Like drugs? Hate Drugs? Want marijuana legalized or decriminalized? Want it to remain illegal? Whatever your stance is on drug policy in the United States, voting in the 2008 election could change current laws on drug policy. The information below was taken courtesy of OnTheIssues.org.

Barack Obama (Democratic Jr Senator (IL)):
* Look at needle exchange; and expand treatment. (Feb 2008)
* Fight to rid our communities of meth. (Feb 2008)
* Expand drug courts; help prisoners with substance abuse. (Feb 2008)
* 2001: questions harsh penalties for drug dealing. (Oct 2007)
* Not first candidate to use drugs, but first honest about it. (Oct 2007)
* Do not lower drinking age from 21 to 18. (Sep 2007)
* Experimented with cocaine but turned down heroin. (Aug 2007)
* A "secret smoker", especially around reporters. (Aug 2007)
* Smokes cigarettes now; smoked some pot in high school. (Feb 2007)
* Admitted marijuana use in high school & college. (Jan 2007)
* Deal with street-level drug dealing as minimum-wage affair. (Oct 2006)
* Understand why youngsters want to use drugs. (Aug 1996)
* Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use. (Sep 2007)

Hillary Clinton (Democratic Jr Senator (NY)):
* Reduce sentencing disparity for crack, but not retroactively. (Dec 2007)
* 1969: held herself aloof from college drug counterculture. (Jul 2007)
* Divert non-violent drug offenders away from prison. (Jun 2007)
* Address drug problem with treatment and special drug courts. (Oct 2000)
* Involved parents most influential in reducing teen drug use. (Sep 1996)
* Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use. (Sep 2007)

John McCain (Republican Sr Senator (AZ)):
* Mexico should extradite drug dealers to the US. (Mar 2007)
* Administration is AWOL on the war on drugs. (Mar 2000)
* Public/private partnerships for drug treatment. (Jan 2000)
* Prevention & education apply to alcohol as well as marijuana. (Oct 1999)
* We’re losing drug war - just say no. (Oct 1999)
* $1B for detection equipment for more border interdiction. (Mar 1999)
* Mexico: balancing act between free trade & stopping drugs. (Mar 1999)
* Restrict methadone treatment programs. (Feb 1999)
* Stricter penalties; stricter enforcement. (Jul 1998)
* Voted YES on spending international development funds on drug control. (Jul 1996)

Ron Paul (Republican Representative (TX-14); former LIbertarian for President):
* War on drugs is out of control; revert control to states. (Dec 2007)
* Repeal most federal drug laws; blacks are treated unfairly. (Sep 2007)
* Inner-city minorities are punished unfairly in war on drugs. (Sep 2007)
* $500B on War on Drugs since 1970s has been a total failure. (Sep 2007)
* Legalize industrial hemp. (Jan 2007)
* Drug War fosters violence at home & breeds resentment abroad. (Oct 2001)
* Societal inconsistency on alcohol contributes to drug use. (Dec 1987)
* Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)
* Voted NO on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests. (Sep 1998)
* War on Drugs has abused Bill of Rights . (Dec 2000)
* Legalize medical marijuana. (Jul 2001)
* Rated A by VOTE-HEMP, indicating a pro-hemp voting record. (Dec 2003)
* Rated +30 by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance. (Dec 2006)
* Allow rehabilitated drug convicts get student loans. (Jan 2008)

For full quotes and more information please visit the OnTheIssues.org Drugs page here: http://ontheissues.org/Drugs.htm