Sanders Open to Legalizing Marijuana?

[TBF]

Bernie Sanders indicated an openness to legalizing recreational marijuana Tuesday afternoon during an online question and answer session with voters on reddit.

By Tim Devaney - 05/19/15 05:21 PM EDT

Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders on Tuesday hinted at support for legalized marijuana, saying police did not focus on arresting people for the drug when he was mayor of Burlington, Vt.

The Vermont senator indicated an openness to legalizing recreational marijuana afternoon during an online question and answer session on Reddit, though he did not explicitly endorse doing so nationwide.

“I can tell you very few people were arrested for smoking marijuana [when I was mayor],” Sanders said. “Our police had more important things to do.”

Sanders, a self-described Socialist who is running for the Democratic nomination, said he supports decriminalizing recreational marijuana in Vermont, and is watching the situation in Colorado “very closely.”

More here: http://thehill.com/regulation/legislation/242569-bernie-sanders-talks-pot

[F4lconF16]

1. Has he stated why he has not been before?

Genuine question, given all of his other stances.

[TBF]

3. I will have to do more searching on this -

but I did find that he had at least co-sponsored the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act

http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Bernie_Sanders_Drugs.htm

[F4lconF16]

5. That's something.

I'm just surprised he hasn't adopted a fully pro-cannabis stance yet. I don't think it would hurt him, and it's a big part of the prison profit system, police violence, the war on drugs, and racism.

[TBF]

8. I'm with you -

he did say in one of the articles that there will be more to come with this. I don't think it has really been on his radar the way income inequality has. But I agree with you and others on this board - all of these things are connected in a system in which so many are oppressed.

Personally I would just like some medicinal tea that could help my chronic illness. They could sell it at CVS either behind the counter or OTC - I'd be fine either way. I am just another mid-life mom out there who happens to have a chronic illness ... and I'm sure there are many other people with chronic conditions who feel the same way and will appreciate candidates who are supportive of cannabis and it's many potential applications.

[Punx]

2. Another Question

At the least would he support taking it off Schedule I?

[F4lconF16]

4. Very big question here.

Good point.

[Punx]

6. Just Because

It would be a big start to stopping a lot of the damage regarding the "War on Drugs" with regards to cannabis. The number one thing I hear from HR departments and employers is that "it's Schedule I and that means we don't have to accept medical use for it, so your Medical Marijuana card means nothing". Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Well that and it's the right thing to do anyway.

Plus any thing that was Nixon's idea should have been stopped a long time ago.

[TBF]

9. "Plus any thing that was Nixon's idea should have been stopped a long time ago"

Amen to that.

[questionseverything]

10. at least in medical mj states?

Legalize medical marijuana.

Sanders co-sponsored the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act:
Title: To provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States. Summary: Transfers marijuana from schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to schedule II of such Act. Declares that, in a State in which marijuana may be prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use under applicable State law, no provision of the Controlled Substances Act shall prohibit or otherwise restrict:
the prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use;
an individual from obtaining and using marijuana from a physician's prescription or recommendation of marijuana for medical use; or
a pharmacy from obtaining and holding marijuana for the prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use under applicable State law.
Prohibits any provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act from prohibiting or restricting a State entity from producing or distributing marijuana for the purpose of its distribution for prescription or recommendation by a physician in a State in which marijuana may be prescribed by a physician for medical use.
Source: House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HR2592 on Jul 23, 2001

http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Bernie_Sanders_Drugs.htm

[cascadiance]

7. Though he's not the first senator to take this stance...

Oregon's Jeff Merkley supported legalizing marijuana in last election when the measure was on our state ballot here...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/jeff-merkley-legalize-pot-oregon