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Rudy Giuliani on Medical Marijuana and Drug Policy
This candidate has withdrawn from the election
"I believe the effort to try and make marijuana available for medical uses is really a way to legalize it. There's no reason for it... We'd be much better off telling people the truth. Marijuana adds nothing to the array of legal medications and prescription medications that are available for pain relief."
But Giuliani has spent most of his career advocating for more federal power to fight the federal war on drugs. He has declared that he would continue the Drug Enforcement Administration raids on medical marijuana facilities, overruling state law.
But Giuliani has spent most of his career advocating for more federal power to fight the federal war on drugs.
We need to call on the on the federal government after having done our job effectively [on crime reduction] to make [drug reduction] an important part of our foreign policy, rather than a secondary part. After all it has to do with the future of our children and it is just important as international trade. And it's just a important as wars that may be going on in different parts of the world, because it has to do with how productive America is going to be into the next generation.
Speech at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government Sep 29, 1997
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) Executive Director Keith Stroup is outraged. "What he's doing is arresting kids for smoking pot in the park. Giulani's campaign is based on busting as many pot smokers as possible," fumed Stroup. "It's the largest percentage increase in arrests I've ever seen. Incredible."
In focusing on toughening drug laws, Giuliani said he would focus on methamphetamine. Giuliani said he would boost funding for drug education and would toughen prosecution for those who sell drugs by applying federal penalties aimed at drug trafficking.
Associated Press: August 7, 2007