Washington, DC: NORML has updated its 2004 Presidential Candidate Report Card to now include detailed analyses of each of the leading presidential candidates, including Democratic nominee John Kerry (D-MA), Libertarian contender Gary Nolan, Green Party contender David Cobb, Independent candidate Ralph Nader, and Republican incumbent George W. Bush.
The Report Card profiles each candidate’s support and/or opposition to decriminalizing marijuana penalties, legalizing medical marijuana and industrial hemp, and repealing the provision to the Higher Education Act (HEA) that prevents convicted marijuana offenders from receiving federal student financial aid. It’s available online at NORML’s website at:
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5895
“Marijuana law reform promises to be a pivotal and highly publicized issue this election,” NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup said. “NORML’s 2004 Presidential Candidate Report Card is a quick reference guide to the candidates’ positions on all things marijuana, and is a useful tool for any activist looking to stay informed of where the presidential candidates stand on the pot issue.”
Democratic nominee John Kerry (D-MA) rated one thumbs up (for his support for the use of medicinal marijuana in states that have legalized it), and three thumbs in the middle (for his mild support for decriminalization, his partial support for repealing the HEA drug exclusionary rule, and for refusing to take a public position on the legalization of industrial hemp). President George Bush received thumbs down in every category.
For a complete listing of candidates’ positions, please visit:
http://www.norml.org