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Cynthia McKinney on Medical Marijuana and Drug Policy

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

Cynthia McKinney strongly supports making marijuana available for medical reasons

"In 1999, I voted to oppose prohibiting needle exchange and medical marijuana in the District of Columbia."

Green Party 2008 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire Feb 3, 2008

We oppose the arrest, harassment or prosecution of anyone involved in any aspect of the production, cultivation, transportation, distribution or consumption of medicinal marijuana. We also oppose the harassment, prosecution or revocation of license of any health- care provider who gives a recommendation or prescription for medicinal marijuana.

Green Party Platform (article)

“Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente oppose the War on Drugs, calling it a war on African American, Latino, poor, and young people. They favor legalization of marijuana and medical treatment for drug use and abuse instead of prosecution.”

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Cynthia McKinney strongly opposes federal raids on medical marijuana facilities in states which have approved its use

In 2005 and 2006, Rep. McKinney voted in support of the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment, which would have ended the federal government's DEA raids on medical marijuana patients and caregivers in states where its use has been approved.

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Cynthia McKinney strongly opposes fighting a war on drugs internationally

"In September 2001, (in the early days following the 9-11- 2001 attacks) I voted in opposition to military border patrols to battle drugs and terrorism."

Green Party 2008 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire Feb 3, 2008

"We believe that the war on drugs provides cover for U.S. military intervention in foreign countries, particularly to our south, and that this increased militarization is used to put down all social protest movements in countries like Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and elsewhere.... We need to end the funding of Plan Colombia and Plan Mexico and other militarized "plans" enacted that fund and support a failed drug policy at home and abroad."

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Cynthia McKinney strongly supports relaxing drug laws and/or drug enforcement

"We believe that the United States has the most expensive, most repressive, least effective drug policy in the industrialized world. And it is this drug war that has helped the United States incarcerate a higher percentage of its own people than any other country in the world. We believe that the War on Drugs is waged largely against the poor and the resultant massive incarceration serves the profitmotive of prisons whose stocks are traded on Wall Street.... We need an end to mandatory minimum drug sentences. We need a budget focused on prevention and treatment. The law should include legal regulation of drugs. We need legalization of industrial hemp as a cash crop. We need drug laws based on the truth."

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