▼ Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)
In Short
Rep. Paul has been an outspoken opponent of marijuana prohibition and has consistently voted in favor of legislation to end the DEA's raids on medical marijuana patients.
What Rep. Paul Has Done:
Rep. Paul has consistently voted in favor of, and cosponsored, the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment, which would have barred the DEA from spending any money to raid or arrest medical marijuana patients and caregivers in the states that allow the medical use of marijuana. He voted for this legislation again in 2007.
What Rep. Paul Has Said:
On June 5, 2007, in Manchester, New Hampshire, Rep. Paul was asked if he would end the federal raids on medical marijuana patients in states that have approved its use. He responded, "That's something that the president can do. I could just say, 'state law overrides federal law,' instead of federal law coming down with a heavy hand. I think you can do a lot to end that war without congressional changes because we have the authority, especially if you're a state — states willing to take on some of these issues. So if a state wanted to start using that authority, they would be allowed."
Prior to a campaign event in Londonderry, N.H., on August 19, a GSMM staffer asked Rep. Paul what his administration would do to end the federal raids on medical marijuana patients. He replied, "I'd stop them. I wouldn't do them, because it's unconstitutional. Why should I go and send someone out to California to overrule a state law when we have no jurisdiction? Besides, it's a waste of a lot of money and energy. No, there should be no federal preemption on laws like that." GSMM then told Rep. Paul that a number of his fellow Republican candidates have said they would continue the DEA’s raids. Rep. Paul responded, "Yeah, because they're so compassionate, 'compassionate conservatives.' I don't have any compassion, you know, I would like people who are dying with cancer and AIDS to have access to whatever they want and make their own choices, especially under a state law."