OnTheIssues interviews with presidential candidates: on Drugs

Paul Adams: Marijuana is an exit drug, not a gateway drug

A: I disagree. I believe it is an exit drug that needs to be legalized in order to empty private prisons that are profit motivated and end the war on drugs. In the same breath, I am for packaging that alerts to the possible side effects of any drug.

Marc Allan Feldman: The Drug War must end

A: Strongly oppose. Marijuana is not a gateway drug. Oxycontin and other prescription painkillers are gateway drugs. The Drug War must end. It has condemned a generation of blacks and Latinos to incarceration and criminal records. Marijuana should not even be legalized like alcohol and tobacco. It should be normalized like caffeine and chocolate. As President I would place a high priority on pardoning thousands of non-violent offenders to rejoin and support their families and communities.

Mark Stewart: Marijuana is not a gateway drug

A: Marijuana is not a gateway drug. Nobody gets high and craves harder drugs from it. Indeed, few people even have an addictive craving for marijuana itself. Marijuana is no more addictive than hot fudge sundaes, and no more of a gateway than an ice cream come.

The one extent to which marijuana IS a gateway drug, ironically, is because it's been made criminal. So some kids try it, have fun and suffer no harm, and REASONABLY conclude: "if this (Schedule 1) drug is what they call harmful, what could be so bad about LSD or heroin?" And they then try one of those the next weekend. Then marijuana, by it's illegality, becomes a gateway to truly addictive drugs. Stupid.

Mark Stewart: Marijuana is no more addictive than hot fudge sundaes

I support marijuana legalization. That some high political figures would criminalize an activity that harms at most the user himself is wayward thinking. It's despicable thinking when it comes from politicians who themselves used illegal drugs. Criminalizing pot use and pot sales to adults is more evil now than 35 years ago because criminal records are now a permanent hex -- they keep you from getting decent jobs forever; and if your "criminality" is a harmless third strike, these draconian politicians put you in prison for 25 years.

Jim Hedges: Medical marijuana only

A: it can be, support medical marijuana only

Roseanne Barr: Legalize medical Marijuana

Q: Strongly Oppose; Legalize medical Marijuana

Virgil Goode: Drug laws should be enforced

A: Without commenting on morality, drug laws should be enforced.

David Walker: Decriminalize marijuana use; differentiate from hard drugs

A: We need to understand there's a substantive difference between serious drugs and marijuana. And our laws need to be adjusted accordingly. Selling illegal drugs is immoral--absolutely and positively. Using drugs is a different issue. I would not legalize hard drugs. I would not legalize marijuana but would change the enforcement provisions to no jail time for just marijuana use.

Rocky Anderson: Opposes considering drug use immoral

A: Oppose

Andre Barnett: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it

A: Agree.

Robert Steele: Get CIA and DEA out of the covert drug business

• Legalize marijuana and hemp--restore economy to reduce incentives for bathroom drugs
• Get CIA and DEA out of the covert drug business
• Get serious about pushing back on legal drugs that are not needed and not healthy

Robert Steele: Drug use is not a moral issue; legalize marijuana

A: Strongly Oppose. Marijuana should be legalized, along with the growing and sale of hemp. We need to get CIA and DEA out of the drug smuggling business, apply the same social and legal constraints to drugs that we apply to alcohol, and eliminate the primary foundation for organized crime and drug smuggling with all its violence.

JL Mealer: Asylum for insider aliens turning in drug smugglers

JL Mealer: Drug use is a hazard to other people

A: SUPPORT however, drug use is "NOT IMMORAL", just a hazard to other people and to America's posterity, thus unconstitutional when not regulated. See MEALER DRUG POLICY on my website www.mealer2012.com.

Scott Keller: Drug use isn't immoral, though it's unintelligent

A: Oppose. Drug use isn't immoral, though it's unintelligent, it's a symptom that society is on the wrong path. One, drugs are sold for profit. If there were no profit to be made from them there would be significantly less drugs made. So the question then becomes, "how can we end profiteering on drugs?" Two, many people have no hope, no purpose. If they had a purpose, a set of worthy goals that are realistic and in line with their passions, they wouldn't be interested in the drugs. There are people who want to use drugs to purposely change their consciousness but if trained properly could do so without drugs. Psychonautics should be a readily available course of study. Children need a user's manual to the human psyche and that will make drugs far less attractive.

Brian Moore: Decriminalize drug use; de-fund war on drugs