November 2016 may be 15 months away, but a full field of Republican and Democratic candidates are lining up to be the next president of the United States. Nearly half the states in the union allow some level of medical marijuana use, and four states and the District of Columbia allow recreational use and sales, while federal law still prohibits all use. The legal contradiction is a major consideration for those who would like to lead the executive branch.Some candidates will fade away as the campaign progresses, and some candidates will change their tune on the issue; however, most presidential wannabes have taken a stance on the legalization of marijuana. Here are their current opinions.Republican candidatesRand PaulKentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a physician, is believed to be the first major presidential candidate to solicit campaign donations directly from the marijuana industry, according to the Washington Post. He held a private event at the National Cannabis Industry Association exposition in Denver for $2,700 per person. Paul has said the federal government should not interfere in states that allow pot, and he would allow marijuana businesses access to banking services.Jeb BushThe former Florida governor, Jeb Bush, told attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, ìI thought it was a bad idea, but states ought to have the right to do it.î Bush strongly opposed the 2014 medical marijuana legalization ballot measure in Florida. The measure narrowly missed (at 57 percent) the required 60 percent majority needed for approval.Scott WalkerThe governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, has previously said, while he didn’t believe marijuana should be legalized, he thought that states should have the right to decide the issue. However, in July, he clarified his position by saying, as president, he would direct the justice department to prosecute within states like Colorado, where marijuana is legal, to enforce the federal prohibition. In a statement on KTRS radio in St. Louis, Walker said, ìUntil the federal government changes the laws, you don’t get to pick and choose in a just society whether you enforce the laws or not.îBen CarsonNeurosurgeon Ben Carson said he sees some possible benefits to medical marijuana, but opposes recreational legalization. ìI don’t think this is something we really want for our society.î (Fox News Politics, January 2014)Donald TrumpDonald Trump announced that he was ì100 percentî in favor of medical marijuana at the 2015 CPAC conference. He said he is opposed to recreational legalization. But, regarding states that legalize recreational use, Trump said, ìIf they vote for it, they vote for it.îChris ChristieIn 2014, Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor, famously ridiculed Colorado’s poor ìquality of lifeî since Amendment 64 was implemented. He told CBS Face The Nation in June that he would aggressively enforce federal law in Colorado and Washington.Ted CruzSen. Ted Cruz from Texas has reversed his previous opposition to the federal governmentís hands-off approach regarding states that legalize marijuana. ìIf the citizens of Colorado decide they want to go down that road, that’s their prerogative,î Cruz said at the 2015 CPAC. ìI personally don’t agree with it, but that’s their right.îMarco RubioFlorida Sen. Marco Rubio sided with Christie. As president, he would direct the justice department to aggressively pursue dispensaries and users in both medical and recreational legalization states. ìThey don’t agree with it, but they have their rights; but they don’t have a right to write federal policy as well,î Rubio said on Hugh Hewitt’s radio talk show in April.Democratic candidatesHillary ClintonThe former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, has made few comments about the legalization of marijuana so far in her campaign for president. In 2014, she told a CNN town hall gathering that she didn’t believe enough research had been done to fully understand the benefits of medical marijuana use.Bernie SandersVermont Sen. Bernie Sanders told The Denver Post in June that he supports the legalization of medical marijuana and the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of recreational marijuana.
