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John Edwards on Medical Marijuana and Drug Policy
"If somebody like you, who needs medical marijuana to ease your pain, and there's not other medications that can accomplish it, then the FDA can say that but what we have right now is a situation where it's a huge political football, it's used for political rhetoric and the result is a lot of people are being punished as a result."
Edwards told the San Francisco Chronicle in May that he supported more study on medical marijuana, but wouldn't change the law
Pressed by reporters after a speech in which he failed to mention the topic, he called for further study. "I wouldn't change the (marijuana) law now, but I would set up a committee to see if pain relief is different with marijuana," Edwards said. In the meantime, he told reporters, medical marijuana users and providers should expect arrests. "It's the job of the Justice Department to enforce the law as it presently exists," said Edwards.
"Q: I would like to know how you would keep patients and others like myself out of jail for using it [marijuana]? EDWARDS: These raids against patients, I will not do as president of the United States and would put a stop to them. What I have also said is that we really need to put the FDA in charge of this."
Pressed by reporters after a speech in which he failed to mention the topic, he called for further study. "I wouldn't change the (marijuana) law now, but I would set up a committee to see if pain relief is different with marijuana," Edwards said. In the meantime, he told reporters, medical marijuana users and providers should expect arrests. "It's the job of the Justice Department to enforce the law as it presently exists," said Edwards.
Over 80,000 Americans from across the country have joined Edwards in speaking out and urging Congress to use its power of the purse to stop the President from escalating the war, as it has in the past, including in Vietnam, Lebanon, Nicaragua and Colombia.
State News Service January 23, 2007
Voted NO to Senator Graham's amendment on Plan Colombia which would add funds to fight cartels in Colombia
Changing mandatory minimum, changing the disparity between crack and powder cocaine - those things are correct. But can we also create an infrastructure for success for those who are charged and convicted for the first time, so that we help them with drug counseling, job counseling, job training, education - help them get the back into the community with some chance of changing their lives.
2007 Democratic Primary Debate at Howard University Jun 28, 2007
I support keeping drugs out of the United States and vigorous prosecution of drug sales. I also support greater funding for drug treatment and alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders such as drug courts.
2004 Presidential National Political Awareness Test Mar 3, 2004
Improve Drug Sentencing: Today, a drug user with the same amount of cocaine is punished very differently depending on the type of cocaine - for crack cocaine the penalty is 100 times greater than for powder cocaine. This disparity is not justified. Edwards will address this disparity while at the same time imposing harsher sentences on drug crimes involving weapons, violence, or other aggravating circumstances.
John Edwards Campaign Website www.johnedwards.com
Voted NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses
Bill S.625 ; vote number 1999-360 on Nov 10, 1999