Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 2024 Democratic Presidential candidate, took aim at Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis (R) on Sunday over his opposition to marijuana decriminalization–and he pledged to enact federal cannabis reform if elected.
During an interview posted the same day, he declined an offer from Bill Maher to smoke a joint.
The son of Robert Kennedy, former Attorney General of the United States and nephew of John F. Kennedy, shared a link with a Marijuana Moment article regarding recent cannabis remarks made by DeSantis . They also tweeted that DeSantis’ “opposition to decriminalization of marijuana is wrong.”
DeSantis is wrong to oppose marijuana decriminalization. I will decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. The current situation of contradictory laws at the state and federal level is absurd. States should have the right to make decisions without interference from federal government. #Kennedy24https://t.co/GtFZRJwCAa
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 25, 2023
He said, “I will decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.” “The current situation with contradictory laws at the state and federal level is absurd. States should have the right to make decisions without interference from federal authorities.
Kennedy’s record on cannabis policy is relatively weak, especially in comparison to his views about vaccines and his bid against incumbent president Joe Biden. He is now tapping into a topic that has supermajority backing among party voters.
It’s not the first time the candidate has spoken out on drug policy, since he entered the race for 2024. He blamed U.S. policy, including the drug war, for exacerbating immigration problems and promised to “change federal laws” accordingly.
Rarely is the most important aspect of immigration discussed: Why do so many people feel so desperate to leave behind their home and country for an uncertain future in the first instance? The answer is not pleasant. The U.S. policy is largely responsible for the desperate situation.
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 3, 2023
Kennedy’s commitment to reform can be traced back to his own personal experiences. He was arrested in 1970 for marijuana possession and again in 1984 for heroin possession.
He spoke briefly about being 40-years-sober in an interview with Bill Maher on “Club Random” Sunday. Maher had offered to smoke with Maher on the show, but he refused. Maher did not seem to mind Maher inhaling a lit cigarette in his presence.
Kennedy’s drug policy is characterized by his views on pharmaceuticals and modern therapies, which are at odds with the scientific consensus. He has used his platform to challenge the effectiveness and side effects associated with vaccines, including those for COVID.
He seized the opportunity, in any case to criticize DeSantis’ unpopular position on marijuana as an extremely dangerous drug which he would refuse to decriminalize should he win the White House.
Kennedy’s position on decriminalization aligns him with Biden who also supports decriminalization, allowing the states to determine their own cannabis laws. One top official told Marijuana Moment that he hoped to complete the review of marijuana’s federal schedule by year’s end.
In recent weeks, other Republican presidential candidates for 2024 have also addressed the issue of drug policy.
In a recent interview , for example, the former president Donald Trump appeared confused when confronted by the fact that he would have sentenced a woman to death if he had implemented his plan of imposing the death penalty on those who traffic in drugs. This was a woman whom he had pardoned during his tenure and used as an example.
In a CNN town-hall event held this month, the former New Jersey governor. Chris Christie (R), who said that he would “end the war on drugs” if elected. He stressed the importance of a treatment-based strategy for people suffering from addiction, while at the same maintaining that he would seek to increase the enforcement against those selling drugs.
Minnesota Supreme Court is accepting applications to serve on the new Marijuana Expungements board created by legalization law
Image element by Gage Skidmore.
The post Robert F. Kennedy Jr. takes a shot at DeSantis over Marijuana Decriminalization–But declines to smoke joint with Bill Maher first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
