Marijuana Policy Project on Marco Rubio
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida announced he is running for president on April 13, 2015.
Where does he stand?
Sen. Rubio has expressed some support for allowing the use of non-psychoactive forms of medical marijuana, but he is staunchly opposed to the legalization of marijuana for adult use.
He has equivocated in his support for letting states establish their own marijuana. In April 2015, he said he believes federal prohibition laws should be enforced in states that have repealed state prohibition laws.
What has he said?
When asked if he would enforce federal law in states where it’s legal: “Absolutely. I believe that the federal government needs to enforce federal law. … I’ve said that I’m open to medical uses of marijuana … if in fact it goes through the FDA process … I’m not in favor of legalizing marijuana. I’m not, and never have been.” Meet the Press, August 9, 2015
When asked if he would enforce federal law and shut down regulation in Colorado: “Yes. Yes, I think, well, I think we need to enforce our federal laws. Now do states have a right to do what they want? They don’t agree with it, but they have their rights. But they don’t have a right to write federal policy as well. It is, I don’t believe we should be in the business of legalizing additional intoxicants in this country for the primary reason that when you legalize something, what you’re sending a message to young people is it can’t be that bad, because if it was that bad, it wouldn’t be legal.” Hugh Hewitt Radio Show, April 14, 2015
“I’m against the legalization of marijuana.” C-SPAN, February 27, 2015
Rubio presidential campaign spokesperson Alex Conant: “Senator Rubio believes legalization of marijuana for recreational use is a bad idea, and that the states that are doing it may well come to regret it. Of course, states can make decisions about what laws they wish to apply within their own borders.” Politico, January 31, 2015
“If there are medicinal uses of marijuana that don’t have the elements that are mind-altering or create the high but do alleviate whatever condition it may be they are trying to alleviate, that is something I would be open to.” Tampa Bay Times, July 30, 2014
“The bottom line is, I believe that adding yet another mind-altering substance to something that’s legal is not good for the country, I understand there are people that have different views on it, but I feel strongly about that.” Yahoo! News, May 19, 2014
“Marijuana is illegal under federal law. That should be enforced.” ABC News, May 15, 2014
Grade D
