Howard Dean on Drugs Former VT Governor; Former Democratic Candidate for President

Treat drug abuse as a medical problem, not a judicial one

Smoked marijuana in the past, as did other Dems

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?...”

The next day’s news coverage of the debate focused on the attacks on Dr. Dean for his references to appealing to people who fly the Confederate flag. The admissions of marijuana smoking by three of the Democratic candidates for president were largely ignored.

Evaluate marijuana & legalize for valid medical purposes

A: I don’t think they should throw people in jail, but here’s what I think. The process by which medical marijuana is being legalized is the wrong process. I don’t like it when politicians interfere in medicine. It’s why I am very pro-choice, because I don’t think that is the government’s business. So what I will do as president is, I will require the FDA within 12 months to evaluate marijuana and see if it is, in fact, a decent medicine or not. If it is, for what purposes -- and I suspect it will be for cancer patients and HIV/AIDS patients. And it should be allowed for that. But I suspect it will not be allowed for things like glaucoma. But we have to do the FDA studies. I think marijuana should be treated like every other drug in the process and there shouldn’t be a special process which is based on politics to legalize it.

Hammer the dealers; treat the casual users

A: I am in favor of really hammering dealers. They are merchants of death & destruction & misery. The rest of the drug problem-the casual users-is a public health problem, not a criminal problem, and we ought to approach it using a medical model. I particularly like drug courts where the court has wide discretion to sentence people to rehabilitation. It’s smarter to send casual users of serious drugs to rehab rather than jail. And it’s cheaper in the long run. Even if they will fail rehabilitation 3 or 4 times, that’s what you have to understand about substance abusers. From a medical point of view, as a physician, and also as a governor, I think we ought to treat drug abuse as a public health problem. I’m not in favor of decriminalizing drugs. That sends a very bad message to young people-we already have a serious problem with the drugs that are legal, alcohol and tobacco, and adding a third drug is not a good idea.

More federal funding for all aspects of Drug War.

To reduce the presence of illegal drugs, drug-related organized crime, and the adverse effects of drug and alcohol abuse in society requires a comprehensive strategy involving federal, state, and local governments. The Governors believe that one of the most severe public health threats is the recent rise in substance abuse among children.
• The Federal Role
  The profits from illicit drug trafficking can be effectively used to help state efforts to dry up the demand for these drugs. The nation’s Governors urge the President and Congress to fully fund drug and alcohol abuse education, drug courts, treatment, prevention, and law enforcement efforts, including the initiative to combat and clean up methamphetamine production laboratories, at the state and local levels of government.
• Intensified Eradication and Interdiction
  Federal funding for use of the National Guard in drug and border enforcement deserves continued support. The Governors urge the President and Congress to utilize the role of U.S. military forces in interdiction efforts.
• High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program.
  The HIDTA program provides additional federal funds to those areas to help federal, state, and local law enforcement organizations invest in infrastructure and joint initiatives to dismantle drug trafficking organizations. Governors support the HIDTA initiative and urge Congress to continue supporting the program.
• The Federal Role in Reducing International Drug Trafficking.
  The nation’s Governors urge the Administration and Congress to significantly tighten procedures for certifying foreign countries for eligibility to receive U.S. aid based on their cooperation with U.S. surveillance, interdiction, and eradication efforts.
• Drug Legalization
  The nation’s Governors believe illicit drug legalization is not a viable alternative, either as a philosophy or as a practical reality.

Rated C- by VOTE-HEMP, indicating an anti-hemp voting record.

VOTE HEMP is a non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and free market for Industrial Hemp. Industrial Hemp is non-psychoactive low THC varieties of the cannabis sativa plant. Currently, it is illegal for U.S. farmers to grow Industrial Hemp because it is improperly classified as a "drug" under the Controlled Substances Act. Since changes in law require shifts in thinking and this requires education in the facts, our primary goal is the education of legislators and regulators, farmers and businesses, students and other concerned citizens.