“As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities across the country, we must pursue every available path to prevent, treat, and ultimately end America’s reliance on these highly addictive drugs… With the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, we can begin to rectify decades of misguided law enforcement policy and focus on solutions. We can work for people like veterans and healthcare advocates instead of pharmaceutical lobbyists who will continue to push dangerous and addictive painkillers even amidst an opioid epidemic. Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition is the best way forward for our criminal justice and healthcare systems.”

“We must end this failed war on drugs. I introduced bipartisan legislation that would end the federal prohibition on marijuana. This will have a great impact on the opioid crisis. In states where marijuana is legalized, we have seen a drop in opioid addiction, and a drop in opioid-related deaths. This will have an impact on our economy in so many different ways, as well as taking a huge bite out of our broken criminal justice system, where far too many nonviolent drug offenders are wasting away.”

“The fact that marijuana’s still a Schedule I drug is unacceptable in the harm that it is causing to the people of our country and to taxpayers as well. The impact this has on individuals, potentially leading to criminal records that impact them, their families, their ability to get a job, housing, financial aid for college–the impacts of this are great. That’s not to speak of the impact on states, small businesses and banks in those states that have legalized some level of marijuana.”

“I believe firmly in every person’s freedom to make their own choices, and that people should not be thrown in jail and incarcerated or made into criminals for choosing to smoke marijuana whether it be for medicinal and non-medicinal purposes.”

“These are not criminal justice issues that warrant punishment. Beto understands that these are chronic brain diseases with the potential for both recovery and relapse.”

“We need to decriminalize the possession and use of drugs in this country. It is fundamental that we no longer pursue this as a criminal justice problem.”

“The focus on the war on drugs going on 50 years in this country not only has deprived other federal agencies and departments… it’s also militarized our communities” and thus solutions must shift funding away from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

“We need to not only end the prohibition on marijuana, but also repair the damage done to the communities of color disproportionately locked up in our criminal justice system or locked out of opportunity because of the War on Drugs,” ​O’Rourke said in a press release.​ “These inequalities have compounded for decades, as predominantly white communities have been given the vast majority of lucrative business opportunities, while communities of color still face over-policing and criminalization. It’s our responsibility to begin to remedy the injustices of the past and help the people and communities most impacted by this misguided war.”
O’Rourke Unveils a Plan to Legalize Marijuana, End War on Drugs
The Hill, September 19 2019
Chris Mills Rodrigo

“I didn’t always believe that decriminalizing opioids was a good way to tackle the opioid crisis in our country. Then I dug into the data, and realized it is the single best way to facilitate recovery by prescribing treatment, not jail to struggling users.”
Andrew Yang | Twitter, July 19, 2019

“For four decades, we’ve subscribed to a “War on Drugs” theory of crime, which has criminalized addiction, ripped apart families — and largely failed to curb drug use. It starts with legalizing marijuana and erasing past convictions, and then eliminating the remaining disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentencing. And rather than incarcerating individuals with substance abuse disorders, we should expand options that divert them into programs that provide real treatment.”
Ending private prisons and exploitation for profit
Medium, June 21, 2019 | Elizabeth Warren

“What I can tell you is this: We have far, far, far too many people in jail for nonviolent crimes, and I think in many ways, the war against drugs has not been successful.”

“Once you’re into heroin, it’s either jail or death”

“The fact that marijuana is classified next to cocaine or heroin under federal law is absolutely ridiculous. We need to legalize marijuana in this country and furthermore, expunge any criminal records pertaining to the use of marijuana.”

“I support the legalization of marijuana and believe that states should have the right to determine the best approach to marijuana within their borders.”
Amy Klobuchar says she supports legalizing marijuana
CNN, February 22, 2019 | Dan Merica and Sophie Tatum

“Times have changed — marijuana should not be a crime. We need to start regulating marijuana, and expunge marijuana convictions from the records of millions of Americans so they can get on with their lives. As marijuana becomes legal across the country, we must make sure everyone — especially communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs — has a real opportunity to participate in this growing industry.”
Harris, Nadler Introduce Comprehensive Marijuana Reform Legislation
U.S. Senate website for Kamala Harris, July 23, 2019

“I actually support the legalization of marijuana, and let me tell you why. Number one, we have enough experience in states like Colorado and other communities across our country that have shown how you can do this, how you can do it in a sensible way with good regulation. I mean, it’s going to be regulated, right? People are not going to be able to do whatever they want, but a well-regulated, legalized system of marijuana, I think, makes sense. On top of that, we need to go back and expunge the records of people who were imprisoned because of using marijuana. And… this part is important in part because there are a lot of people, and folks in this audience probably know some of them who have served jail time, right? And disproportionately it’s impacted communities of color and poor neighborhoods of people who have been imprisoned because of marijuana use. So, it’s not enough just to say we want to legalize it, we actually want to go back and expunge these records…”
Presidential Town Hall with Julian Castro
CNN, April 11, 2019

“We need to ensure that we build on the First Step Act and reform our criminal justice system. That we do things like legalize marijuana. That we encourage communities to go back and expunge the records of too many who have been caught up in this criminal justice system and locked behind bars for small-level offenses.”
Beto O’Rourke, Andrew Yang, Julian Castro Speak at National Action Network Event
NowThis News, April 3, 2019

“…I do think for instance when we compare it to marijuana right now, that we have good evidence that we can regulate that in a sensible way. We have it in Colorado and other states now that have allowed recreational use of marijuana, which I agree with, and so there’s good evidence out there. I’m open to the United States looking at other substances that we can either decriminalize or de-enforce, deprioritize enforcement of. That’s newer right? I mean the evidence of that in our country is newer, and so I do think though that it’s worth taking a look at that and understanding where are those opportunities to either decriminalize or at least de-emphasize enforcement so that we’re not penalizing individuals who should instead be getting the treatment that they need. I believe in that model, generally. I don’t believe in cracking down on people, and like I said, a lot of folks getting caught up in an incarceration system that takes them off of the productive path in life, and they’re never able to get back on because they have that record. And so, I’m very open to that, but you know it is for those of us who are policymakers or aspiring to be, that is newer. I look forward to understanding how we can do that, and make sure that we can do it in the same orderly way, workable way that we’ve been able to do with marijuana in these states.”
Julian Castro – IHRC 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate Forum on the Overdose Crisis – Event 2
November 23, 2019

“I would make sure as president that we have harsh penalties against people who traffic in fentanyl and similar drugs. I also believe we need to make smart investments in our ports of entry so that we can crack down further on the trafficking of fentanyl and other drugs… One thing that I believe we should do is to better invest in security at our ports of entry so that we can do things like catch more of the fentanyl that is coming through… I agree with those who say that we need harsher sentences for people who sell those drugs. We have — when it comes to the users of drugs, for instance, people who have used marijuana in comparison, we have locked people up for generations. There are tons and tons of people who have sat in jail for relatively low-level offenses. We ought to be going after people who are selling these drugs.”
Presidential Town Hall with Julian Castro
CNN, April 11, 2019

“When it comes to the issue of [opioid] prescriptions, I hear that. I also hear from people that we want to make sure that if somebody actually needs medication or a certain drug, that they’re able to get that too, and so, I am mindful of not being overzealous in a way that hurts people who actually need certain medication.”

Julian Castro – IHRC 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate Forum on the Overdose Crisis – Event 2
November 23, 2019

“To ensure that people with a mental illness or substance use disorder can heal, we will decriminalize these conditions.”
HEALING AND BELONGING IN AMERICA: A Plan to Improve Mental Health Care and Combat Addiction
Buttigieg campaign website, 2019

“I get very angry when people talk about legalizing marijuana and then give no light to how marijuana law enforcement was done in ways that fed upon poor communities — black and brown communities,” Booker said. “This is a war on drugs that has not been a war on drugs — it’s been a war on people, and disproportionately poor people and disproportionately black and brown people.”
Why Cory Booker Declined to Co-Sponsor The New Marijuana Bill
Marijuana Merchant Account, April 24, 2019 | Brian Ellis

“I have a lot of respect for the Vice President [Biden]. He is – swore me into my office – is a hero. This week I hear him literally say that I don’t think we should legalize marijuana. I thought you [Biden] might have been high when you said it. Let me tell you, because marijuana in our country is already legal for privileged people… The War on Drugs has been a war on black and brown people. And let me just say this, with more African Americans under criminal supervision in America than all the slaves since 1850, do not roll up into communities and not talk directly to issues that are going to relate to the liberation of children, because there are people in Congress right now that admit to smoking marijuana while there are people, our kids who are in jail right now for those drug crimes.”