Sunday, January 7, 2018

Tulsi Gabbard Denounces Jeff Sessions’ Escalation Of Failed War On Drugs



Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-D) has issued the following statement:
Attorney General Sessions’ reversal of the current non-interference policy that essentially allowed states to implement their own marijuana laws without federal interference, tramples on states’ rights and is a dangerous escalation of the failed so-called War on Drugs. This overreach by the federal government undermines state governments like Hawaii’s that have legalized medical marijuana and threatens the livelihoods and rights of the people of Hawai’i and those of the 29 states and Washington DC who have legalized some form of marijuana.

This decision reinforces our outdated and destructive policies on marijuana that turn everyday Americans into criminals, tear families apart, and waste billions of taxpayer dollars to arrest, prosecute, and incarcerate people for nonviolent marijuana charges. Taxpayer dollars would be better spent tackling the many problems that plague the American people including combating the opioid epidemic, ensuring affordable housing, repairing aging infrastructure, and investing in education, healthcare, veterans’ care, and more.

By continuing to pour billions of dollars down the drain with our archaic marijuana policies, we stifle our economy, society, and criminal justice system and leave the people of Hawai’i and millions more devastated – all for a substance that is far less dangerous and harmful than alcohol. Our laws should accurately reflect scientific consensus – not misplaced stigma and outdated myths about marijuana.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1227, the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, which would decriminalize marijuana by removing it from the federal controlled substances list, treating it the same as alcohol and tobacco. Our bipartisan legislation will end this unnecessary and costly debate once and for all by federally decriminalizing marijuana and kick-starting long overdue, common sense criminal justice reform.
Gabbard is far from a libertarian but she is good on many issues.

 -RW

6 comments:

  1. Individual rights and anti-war are a good start.
    Plus, she's kinda hot.

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    1. Ding! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who thought that.

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    2. Someone needs to send her some convincing libertarian books to read. She seems quite intelligent and the person who actually reads books. I started off as an anti-war and anti-drug war lefty before seeing the light. Maybe she can be pushed towards libertarian ideas.

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  2. Really curious to see how hard Sessions will push back, he doesn't come off as the type that backs down easily

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  3. Jeff Sessions is possibly Trump's most disappointing appointment. He should step down and go back to his first loves: asset forfeiture and busting street dealers.

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