Al Franken on Drugs DFL Jr Senator (MN)

Admitted drug use during days as TV comedian

The next day, that Star Tribune blog post developed into a full-blown story in the newspaper bearing the headline, "Candidates' Past Use of Illegal Substances Surfaces." It devoted more words to Franken's admitted drug use during his Saturday Night Live years than to Coleman's inhaling, [including] rehashed information to which Franken had years ago admitted, including cocaine and LSD use. How did that happen?

Star Tribune editors gulped, felt pressured to re-craft the web post into a "balanced" 15-paragraph story that incorporated historical information about Franken, with bows to Coleman's smoking past and Mike Ciresi's pot dabbling.

Wrote two movies about drug addiction and its horrors

Star Tribune editors re-crafted the web post into a "balanced" 15-paragraph story that incorporated historical information about Franken, with bows to Coleman's smoking past and Mike Ciresi's pot dabbling.

No mention was made that since his SNL days, where drug use was rampant among cast and crew, Franken had written two movies about addiction and its horrors. His wife, Franni, had struggled with alcoholism. Drugs were no longer a laughing matter to Franken.

Drug abuse isn’t immoral; hypocrisy about it is

A: Well, first of all, I am on opposite Rush, and we are pledging to do drug-free radio.

Q: If you or someone in your family had a substance abuse problem, would you be offended if other people mocked it?

A: Yes, unless they were such a public hypocrite about it. When my friend Jerry Garcia died, Rush Limbaugh called him, “Just another dead doper. And a dirt bag.”

Rated C by NORML, indicating a mixed record on drug reform.

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2016 NORML scores as follows:

• C-/D/F: "hard-on-drugs" stance (approx. 243 members)
• C: mixed record on drug reform (approx. 45 members)
• A/B: pro-drug-reform stance (approx. 293 members)

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law's mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty.

NORML is a nonprofit, public-interest lobby that for more than 30 years has provided a voice for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition. We represent the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly and believe the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana should no longer be a crime.

NORML supports the removal of all criminal penalties for the private possession & responsible use of marijuana by adults, including the cultivation for personal use, and the casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts. This model is called "decriminalization."

NORML additionally supports the development of a legally controlled market for marijuana, where consumers could purchase it from a safe, legal and regulated source. This model is referred to as "legalization."

NORML believes that marijuana smoking is not for kids and should only be used responsibly by adults. As with alcohol consumption, it must never be an excuse for misconduct or other bad behavior. Driving or operating heavy equipment while impaired from marijuana should be prohibited.

NORML strongly supports the right of patients to use marijuana as a medicine when their physician recommends it to relieve pain and suffering.

Lastly, NORML supports the right of farmers to commercially cultivate hemp for industrial purposes, such as food and fiber production.