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Barack Obama on Medical Marijuana and Drug Policy

Barack Obama's running mate is Joe Biden
Marijuana became illegal at the federal level with the U.S. Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. However, currently 12 states have legalized medical marijuana for medicinal purposes. Marijuana and other drugs have been at the center of numerous controversial issues in the United States, as they widely impact domestic policy, foreign policy, and law. This topic includes information about candidate positions on: the U.S. international "War on Drugs", sentencing guidelines for drug-related offenses, federal and state drug laws, and the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

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The issues

Barack Obama supports making marijuana available for medical reasons

"I think that we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws. But I'm not somebody who believes in legalization of marijuana. What I do believe is that we need to rethink how we are operating in the drug wars, and I think that currently we are not doing a good job."

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"Mr. Obama as the lone presidential candidate among the four leading challengers in either party who supports eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana. Mr. Obama's chief rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton, opposes decriminalization, Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer said."

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"The Justice Department going after sick individuals using this as a palliative instead of going after serious criminals makes no sense."

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Barack Obama opposes federal raids on medical marijuana facilities in states which have approved its use

"I would not have the Justice Department prosecuting and raiding medical marijuana users. It's not a good use of our resources."

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Barack Obama is neutral on fighting a war on drugs internationally

"The United States has invested a great deal - nearly $5 billion during the past 7 years - to help stabilize Colombia. A more peaceful, just, and stable Colombia is undoubtedly in our national interest. It is imperative, however, that greater peace and stability contribute to a reduction in the flow of drugs from Colombia to the United States. Thus far, we have not seen the kind of drop off that the effective pursuit of our interests demands."

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Barack Obama is neutral on relaxing drug laws and/or drug enforcement

If elected, Mr. Obama said he would establish a Drug Enforcement Agency office in New Orleans that would be dedicated to stopping drug gangs across the region.

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When asked if what he thought of a Clinton-era bill that created wide disparity in the way powder cocaine and crack cocaine was punished, Mr. Obama responded, "Yes, it was a mistake."

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"We can assume that with lawful work available for young men now in the drug trade, crime in any community would drop."

The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.257-259 Oct 1, 2006

That vacillation became evident as he kept talking about crack-vs.-powder sentencing, which has come to symbolize racial injustice in criminal justice. He said that if he were to become president, he would support a commission to issue a report "that allows me to say that based on the expert evidence, this is not working and it's unfair and unjust. Then I would move legislation forward."

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Legislation supported by U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) to restore funding that police officers say is crucial to fighting methamphetamine use was accepted as part of the 2007 budget.

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