In recent history, Green Party candidates often failed to gain nation-wide attention or appeal due to a variety of factors. However, this election is unique, and in the current tumultuous American climate Green Party candidate Jill Stein has seen a surge of support. This influx of voters could be traced to factors like party dissatisfaction or political disillusionment, but Stein has elbowed her way onto the political stage and gained support due to her unique and progressive approach to many different cultural issues, notably drug policy in the United States. Stein, who spent over 25 years practicing medicine, views drugs as an essential part of American life and medical treatment, and hopes to find avenues to legalize many drugs if she is elected as the next president. Here are some of her positions on drug policy in America, in her own words.

• “We would actually use science to determine which drugs are dangerous and which ones are not. That means right off the bat marijuana and hemp are removed from the list of dangerous substances because these are not dangerous substances in relation to other unregulated substances including nicotine and alcohol.”

Stein’s background as a medical professional clearly influences her perspective on drugs. Stein has repeatedly made clear that science should be a determining factor in how drugs are regulated in the United States. She is in favor of medical marijuana, and is also in favor of legalizing marijuana entirely.

• “We wouldn’t remove all laws against all drug use. Marijuana is a drug that is dangerous because it’s illegal. It isn’t illegal because it’s dangerous. There are drugs in use that are far more harmful than marijuana–such as alcohol. Legalize marijuana and the dangers go away. Regulate it so that children can’t buy it on the street corner.”

Stein makes it clear that marijuana is only problematic due to its lack of regulation. Stein states that, like alcohol, if marijuana were to be made legal the drug would no longer carry the dangerous properties or stigma it does today. Her zeal for regulation and a reevaluation of marijuana also extends to other drugs as well.

• “Drug use is a public health issue, not a criminal or moral issue. It should not be dealt with in the criminal justice system, but primarily as a public health issue.”

As a doctor, Stein believes that substance addiction is closer to an issue of public health and safety rather than crime or morals. Stein feels that criminalizing drugs and stigmatizing drug users is not a desirable path to help stop drug use in America. Instead, Stein hopes that by offering treatment options for drug users and destigmatizing substance use disorder, illegal and dangerous drug use will cease.

Stein’s two-and-a-half decades of working in the medical field clearly influence her perspective and policy on drugs. While her view on harder drugs is as of this point relatively unknown, her opinion on the use of marijuana, both recreationally and medically, shows that Stein may put into place a progressive policy that would aid in destigmatizing drug use in America.

Sources

iSideWith.com interview of Jill Stein,  Nov 1, 2012

2011 OnTheIssues interview with Jill Stein, Dec 21, 2011