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Al Sharpton on Drugs

Reverend; Civil Rights Activist; Democratic Candidate for President


Never smoked marijuana, because he grew up in the church

At the "Rock the Vote" debate, the moderator inevitably asked,. "Which of you are ready to admit to having used marijuana in the past?"

"Yes," said John Kerry, leading off. "Yes," said John Edwards . "Yes," said Howard Dean. None of these three baby-boomer candidates said anything beyond their short, declarative affirmations. None followed with a hurried explanation that it was just a few times, that it was some kind of "youthful indiscretion," or that he didn't inhale. The implication of their answers seemed to be, "Yeah, so what?"

In fact, the defensive answers tended to come from those replying in the negative. "No," said Dennis Kucinich. "But I think it ought to be decriminalized."

"I grew up in the church," said Al Sharpton. "We didn't believe in that."

"I have a reputation for giving unpopular answers," said Joe Lieberman. "I never used marijuana. Sorry!"

In the next day's news coverage, the admissions of marijuana smoking were largely ignored.

Source: [X-ref Kerry] Steven Holmes, NY Times Nov 9, 2003

Something wrong with mandatory time for drug users

The priority [in the War on Drugs] seems to be to lock up the low-level guys, many under federal mandatory drug sentencing laws who are caught with a small quantity of crack. Now, I don't condone the actions of that guy, but why should he spend a minimum of 5 to 10 years in jail for a small quantity of crack the size of a "Sweet `N Low" packet, while the drug lord doesn't face any mandatory time? There's something wrong with that picture.

The war on drugs must be fought at a higher level. We have to use trade leverage to go after the countries that produce the drugs-who openly allow drugs to be in their economy-and put them out of business.

Perhaps the reason why the US doesn't go after the real drug lords and the real drug producers and sellers is because it would be bad business on both ends. We make money with the countries that produce the drugs, and we make money by sending the low-level drug criminal to jail for a long time.

Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 130-31 Jan 1, 2002

Other candidates on Drugs: Al Sharpton on other issues:
George W. Bush
Dick Cheney
John Edwards
John Kerry

Third Party Candidates:
Michael Baradnik
Peter Camejo
David Cobb
Ralph Nader
Michael Peroutka

Democratic Primaries:
Carol Moseley Braun
Wesley Clark
Howard Dean
Dick Gephardt
Bob Graham
Dennis Kucinich
Joe Lieberman
Al Sharpton
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Adv: Avi Green for State Rep Middlesex 26, Somerville & Cambridge Massachusetts