School Project!

[STN]

Hey Everyone,
This is for a school project.
What are both sides (Rep. and Dem.) views on the legalization of Marijuana?
Thanks.

[Pirate Utopian]

their both against is my guess, only the green party said they would want to legalize it.

[BreadBros]

BM is correct. There might be one or two Dems n Repubs in favor of it? Look into Dennis Kucinich, maybe Ron Paul or something. For the most part, all against though.

[Fawkes]

Yeah, both are very much so against it.

[AmerGuerilla]

their both against is my guess, only the green party said they would want to legalize it. the opposite is definetly true in Colorado were tomorow we will vote on Amendment 44 to legalize possesion of up to an ounce of weed if your oveer 21, almost all if not all of the Democrats here are pro 44.

[RedCeltic]

Here are some of the opinions of some major political figures in the US as to Drugs, Don’t know if any of this would help.

Jim Jeffords of VT: In July 2000 stated he supported decriminalization of medical marijuana.

Sen. Richard Durbin, Patrick Leahy, & Jim Jeffords introduced a bill to protect Medical Marijuana 2004.

President George W. Bush: Supports aggressive drug education, treatment and enforcement. He proposed $23 million for more drug testing in schools.

Vice President Dick Cheney supports mandatory sentencing for drug charges, rewards for “snitches” on drug sales, mandatory participation of the media with the “war on drugs” and more federal funding to fight international drug trafficking.

Hillary R. Clinton supports the creation of special “drug courts.”

Bill Frist: supports higher mandatory sentencing for drug related charges and more funding for international development of drug control.

Ted kennedy: opposes mandatory sentencing for drug related charges and opposes spending more on the international development of drug control.

Tuesday, October 28, 2003 -- Both U.S. senators from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, have written a letter to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration urging approval of an application by the University of Massachusetts to grow high-quality marijuana for medicinal research

John McCain: said the Clinton Administration was “AWOL” on the war on drugs. In 2000 election, of all the presidential candidates, McCain had the most “hawkish” views of drug control and enforcement. John McCain supports more use of the military to fight the war on drugs.

Ralph Nader: Supports full legalization of Marijuana for medical and recreational use. In 2000 stated, Addiction should never be treated as a crime. It has to be treated as a health problem. We do not send alcoholics to jail in this country. Over 500,000 people are in our jails who are nonviolent drug users.” He calls the war on drugs a failure and calls for treatment rather than incarseration for drug use. Supports creation of an industrial hemp industry, and a ban on tobacco ads and product placement that target women.

Patrick Buchanan says that Marijuana use is not a victimless crime yet somehow believes that children are being born addicted to Marijuana. He is against NAFTA, partly because he thinks an open boarder has allowed more Mexicans to bring their drugs into America, and says that Mexicans are poisoning the hearts and minds of Americans with their narcotics.

John Ashcroft: supports tougher penalties for Meth, higher mandatory drug charge sentencing, more money for the war on drugs.

Elizabeth Dole supports random drug testing on all public transportation systems. Double Mexican boarder patrol to keep drugs out, Ending aid to Columbia till they wipe out “narco-guerillas” not recognize nations that do not do enough to fight drugs,

Janet Reno: supports building more prisons to imprison more drug offenders, creation of special drug courts, early intervention program.

Jesse Ventura: says drugs are a health problem, not a crime. The war on drugs has failed like prohibition has failed. Calls for full legalization of Marijuana for medical and recreational use. Says “Jail won’t work when we can’t keep drugs out of prison.”

Noam Chomsky calls the drug war fraudulent and says drug use is falling. Says that the drug war is an excuse for military intervention abroad. Says that while illegal drug use is responsible for 3500 deaths a year, tobacco use is responsible for 300,000 deaths and alcohol another 100,000 deaths. Said that among some 60 million marijuana users, marijuana has not cause a single death and says the crackdown on drug use has only exasterbated the problem.

Bill Clinton in 1997 launched a $195 million anti-drug ad campaign targeting youth.

Democratic party platform on drugs

Bring to justice those bringing drugs to America
We will increase efforts to combat drug-trafficking throughout the Caribbean and ensure that those involved in bringing drugs into the U.S. are brought to justice. We will assist in combating corruption so that funds made available for development are used appropriately.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.11 Jul 10, 2004
Drugs in prison: get clean to get out
We have to test prisoners for drugs while they are in jail, treat them, and break up the drug rings inside our prison system. Drug and alcohol abuse is implicated in the crimes of 80 percent of the criminals behind bars. We should make prisoners a simple deal: get clean to get out, stay clean to stay out. We should impose strict supervision of those who have just been released on parole. In return, we should help them make it in the workplace.
Source: Democratic National Platform Aug 15, 2000
Dry up drug demand via more enforcement plus more treatment
We should send a strong message to every child: drugs are wrong & can kill you. We need to dry up drug demand, hold up drugs at the border, and break up the drug rings that spread poison on our streets. We should open more drug courts, to speed justice for drug-related crimes; double the number of drug hot-spots where we aggressively target our enforcement efforts; expand drug treatment for at-risk youth; make sure that all of our school zones are drug-free; and provide drug treatment upon demand.
Source: Democratic National Platform Aug 15, 2000
Fight drugs and economic hopelessness that fuels it
Our nation is afflicted with drugs. We must continue to combat traffickers. We must have a Drug Czar. We must work with our allies to fight the blood money of the drug trade. We must remember that the drug trade reflects the economics of hopelessness. Farmers have been drawn to cultivate these crops as a means for economic survival. The Democratic Party understands that no policy of prosecution will succeed unless it is combined with robust investment in alternative ways to make a living.

Republican platform on drugs

Clinton surrendered Drug War; cry out for drug-free schools
The entire nation has suffered from the administration’s virtual surrender in the war against drugs, but children in poor communities have paid the highest price in the threat of addiction and the daily reality of violence. Drug kingpins have turned entire neighborhoods into wastelands and ruined uncounted lives with their poison. Not surprisingly, teen attitudes toward drug abuse have veered sharply away from disapproval. With abundant supplies in their deadly arsenal, drug traffickers are targeting younger children, as well as rural kids.
Still, there is no substitute for presidential leadership, whether internationally or here at home, where America’s families cry out for safe, drug-free schools. A Republican president will hear those cries and work with parents to protect children. We will bring accountability to anti-drug programs, promote those that work, and cease funding for those that waste resources.
Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention Aug 12, 2000
Aggressively pursue drug kingpins; include death penalty
In a Republican administration the Department of Justice will require all federal prosecutors to aggressively pursue drug dealers, from the kingpins to the lackeys. We renew our support for capital punishment for drug traffickers who take innocent life.

Green Party platform on drugs

More drug counseling & treatment
We call for legalization of industrial hemp and all its many uses.
• We oppose the illicit activities of the international drug trade and the illicit money laundering that often accompanies the drug cartels.
• We call for a revised view of the “drug problem” and an end to the “war on drugs,” recognizing that after over a decade of strident law-and-order posturing, the problems with hard drugs have only worsened.
• We call for expanding drug counseling and treatment for those who need it.
• We believe mandatory drug testing violates civil rights; therefore, we oppose mandatory testing.
• We favor innovative sentencing and punishment options, including community service for first-time offenders and “Drug Court” diversion programs.
• We support alternative sentencing for non-violent crimes (i.e. community service) and guaranteed education within prison.
Source: Green Party Platform, at 2000 National Convention Jun 25, 2000
Replace Drug War with treatment and alternative sentencing
• We support decriminalization of “VICTIMLESS” CRIMES, for example, the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
• We call for legalization of industrial hemp and all its many uses.
• We oppose the illicit activities of the international drug trade and the illicit money laundering that often accompanies the drug cartels. We call for a revised view of the “drug problem” and an end to the “war on drugs,” recognizing that after over a decade of strident law-and-order posturing, the problems with hard drugs have only worsened.
• We call for expanding drug counseling and treatment for those who need it.
• We believe mandatory drug testing violates civil rights; therefore, we oppose mandatory testing.
• We favor innovative sentencing and punishment options, including community service for first-time offenders and “Drug Court” diversion programs. We support alternative sentencing for non-violent crimes.





Libertarian Party platform on drugs

The war on drugs threatens individual liberties
The War on Drugs is a threat to individual liberty and domestic order; furthermore, it has provided a rationale by which the power of the state has been expanded to restrict our privacy. We condemn the use of “profiles” as sufficient to satisfy the probable cause requirement of the Fourth Amendment, the use of “civil asset forfeiture” to reduce the standard of proof historically borne by government in prosecutions, and the use of military forces for civilian law enforcement.

[atlas]

wow. very informative. I didn't know that about Elizabeth Dole wanting drug testing on public transportation. not only would that cost ridiculous amounts of money, it would make drug users even less successful, costing more money in the long run when they're sent to prison and are not producing anything; or at least as much as they would outside of prison. And wtf is this about dick cheney wanting mandatory war on drug coverage in the media? sounds like scare tactics to me; also makes me wonder what is currently mandatory coverage in the media (not that i trust most of it anyway)

[fashbash]

From a British pov, total legalization would be an appalling thing! Imagine the price rise if it were to be sold alongside tobacco in the newsagent! In most places in the UK you can buy an eighth of an ounce for £10, some places it's cheaper. And, imagine how much harder it would be to get! Half-past ten at night, no weed, newsagent's is shut. At least now you can give your dealer a bell and pick some up.

Seriously though, posession must be legalised here. What is the sense in arresting people for such minor transgressions of the law? What good does it do anybody? None, not the taxpayer, not the pothead, not the pothead's family, and certainly not society.