Marijuana and the race for US presidency: How does it stack up?

The campaigning for the US presidential candidates has started and the race has begun. You follow it with interest to find out what do they candidates think about economics, national security and topics of national interest. The very fact these guys will take a stand on marijuana legalisation in the coming years make it important for us to follow what they feel about marijuana and the growing clamour about its legalisation. Let us take a closer look at some of the major candidates for both the parties and find out their stand with marijuana and more importantly the federal approach to its legalisation if they become the president.

Donald Trump

The leading candidate of the GOP, Donald Trump has a history of supporting the legalisation of marijuana and other drugs as well in the past. He had cited the failing War on Drugs and the increasing popularity of Drugs despite the prohibition. However, in the run up to the 2015 presidential elections, he has made his stand clear and he has talked in favour of medical marijuana but has spoken against making marijuana legal. He also indicated that the states will have freedom in legalising it and will continue to legalise them and decriminalise the possession and consumption of marijuana under strict conditions.

Rand Paul

Rand Paul of the Republican Party has been pretty vocal about the legalisation of marijuana and in the past has introduced bills (CARERS Act of 2015) with the intention of operating a medical marijuana shop easier. It would make ways for them to get a loan from a bank and decriminalise the whole medical marijuana business. He has also been vocal about the decriminalisation of the recreational smoking of marijuana. Not just that, he is more than ok with states coming out with their laws regarding legalisation. You could say that he is the best news marijuana has seen so far in the 2016 US Presidential elections.

Bernie Sanders

Senator from Vermont, the Democrat candidate Bernie Sanders has been vocal about decriminalisation of possession of marijuana in small amounts. In the past, he has also spoken about decriminalising all drugs. However he hasn’t supported complete legalisation and favours medical marijuana and the decriminalisation. During his stint as the Mayor of Burlington, he also stressed his relaxed views about recreational use of marijuana. He indeed is good news for medical marijuana and those who are asking for complete legalisation of marijuana.