Robert Menendez on Drugs Democratic Jr Senator; previously Representative (NJ-13)

Rated C by NORML: decriminalize medical marijuana & banking

NORML Politician Info: rated C
• Candidate: Bob Menendez (I - NJ): Holds office U.S. Senate; Candidate in race for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024
• Summary: DECRIMINALIZE/MEDICAL USE
• Biography: Senator Bob Menendez publicly supports equal banking rights for cannabis businesses. Senator Menendez has not made many statements regarding his position on legalizing marijuana.
• Comments:
• "Legal marijuana businesses need to be able to open a bank account, pay employees, take out credit cards, & write checks. The SAFE Banking Act makes the industry safer and the future brighter." (August 12, 2019).
• In a letter signed by a bipartisan group of Senators, Menendez called upon Appropriations Committee Chair and Vice Chair to request that they include a provision in the FY18 budget to prevent the DOJ from interfering in states that have legalized marijuana. (2/12/18)

Give marijuana businesses access to banking services

Robert Hugin (R): Decriminalize small amounts but opposes recreational legalization.

Robert Menendez (D): Urged administration to respect state laws & submitted bill to study states that have legalized. Supports giving pot businesses access to banking services.

Review current marijuana laws for cases of incurable disease

KEAN: I oppose the legalization of marijuana and believe we must prosecute drug-related offenses to the fullest extent of the law.

MENENDEZ: For those suffering uncontrollable pain from cancer and other diseases - for which no prescription drug provides relief - I believe we should review current law.

Rated D by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance.

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.