1. Wow. Thank God, there is finally a candidate with the chops to put this issue on the table.

A majority of elected officials readily admit to having at least "experimented with" (translation: got stoned all through college) with marijuana, yet they are too poitically timid to even address the issue. Gravel is right. Our prisons are filled with marijuana users, many of whom will become marginalized and disenfranchised by a felony conviction.

That is not even taking into the account the huge influx of tax dollars that could be generated by finally taxing arguably the #1 cash crop in the United States. Taxing pot could be an excellent first step towards undoing some of the unthinkable damage that Bush and his cronies have done bleeding the U.S. economy over the past six years.

Kudos, Mr. Gravel, kudos!

Art at 9:35AM on May 3rd 2007

2. I used to be hooked on dope but now I know
it was no good for me. Like most that used
it then I thought it was good but.
Here is the problem in making it legal and
that is, if it is, it still will not be for
the young. This opens the door for those
who would use it for the wrong purpose. To
get the young to do what they want to do and
would be able to have it in their possession
legally.
For him to use pot as a stepping stone to
the throne makes him out to be a whore.
Dope has ruined too many lives and anyone
that would push it to get to be our Nations
leader would lead us down the wrong path to
destruction.

William Ehlert at 12:53PM on May 3rd 2007

3. Finaly a polititan that speaks truth. Not only on the drug issues but on all the problems that are taking over this once GREAT country. If only we could get the guts enough to elect someone with the ingreity this guy has. Please, do the research. You will see just as I have that Mike Gravel is the best thing for this weakend country. We were once the light of the world, now we are ashamed to call this place home! FIGHT FOR IT IF YOU WANT CHANGE!

To william. Its very obvious that if marijuana in particular were legalized it would be sold to adults only. Same as alchohol. 21 of years of age required I.D. The lengths that kids/adults go to, to use marijuana these days is incredible. They are going to smoke pot if they want to like it or not, thats just how america is. You like it that way dont you? Free will? Make your own choice? Or would you rather they make it law for you to smoke marijuana twice a day? Obviously you want somewhere in the middle or eitherside. You personaly dont want to smoke, me as well. We make that choice, NO ONE else. Its your choice.

Jesse at 6:21PM on May 3rd 2007

4. William, You were not "hooked" on dope. There is absolutely no evidence that pot is either physically or psychologically addictive. Additionally, pot has amazing medicinal qualities. My wife, who never smoked in her life, came home one day with a migraine so bad that she was vomiting, tears running down her face. I had about half a joint left and I convinced her to try it, that I was very sure it would help. Within an hour and a half, her headache was totally gone and she was in the kitchen whistling and preparing dinner. Run up an alley and yell "fish", Michael. You obviously are a mental midget.

Rick Mundy at 8:43AM on May 4th 2007

5. More people are dying from alchool , (liquer,wine ,beer) or siggaret abuse on car crashes or liver related sicness than pot,and that is the truth.And as Jesse says to be sold like them .ID over 21 etc,etc,.Nobody should spend not even a minute in gail for pot use ,neither for fun nor medical use. It cost us taxpayers multimillions to have precius law enforecment, after pot users

mike at 1:01PM on May 4th 2007

6. The only people that should be in jail for marijuana, are the multimillionaire thugs and sociopaths that traffic the stuff at the highest levels. These are the true criminals, and the blood they shed, the mules they abuse, and the high lifestyles they maintain, are truly amoral. These parasites ride on the backs of the stupid drugs laws in this country and prosper.

Make it legal, highly tax it, and use the billions being used fighting it to get decent health care, education, and security for this country.

If you're going to abuse, you're going to abuse. Prohibition should have taught us that lesson. At least take the profit out of the hands of criminals and put it to good use. The days of hippies selling ounces, or a few pounds, are long gone. It's big business now.

Use prisons for what they are made for, locking up the most dangerous and socially subversive among us.

Larry at 7:08PM on May 4th 2007

7. The slang calling pot "dope" does it a diservice. Dope used to mean heroin, and that is addicting and destructive. Pot isn't,and has valid medical uses, as well as just plain helping over-stressed Americans relax, take away feelings of nausea, sleep better, etc. I remember back in the early 70's cigarette companies trademarked names such as Acapulco Gold, Maui Wowie, etc. in anticipation of pot being legalized. Evidently they were wrong, it's TOO useful in creating jobs for more police, more guards, more prisons, etc. Instead, let's control it like alcohol, and MAKE money (lots) from a moderate tax on it.

Rick at 8:21PM on May 4th 2007

8. The comment on Prohibition is absolutely the truth. Marijuana is just one small part of the problem. There is an enormous undergroud multi-billion dollar crime driven economy that thrives on the fact that drugs like marijuana are illegal. If marijuana were legalized then all the crime associated with it would disappear along with all of the non-violent offenders in prison that the law put in prison. There have been many studies on the financial effects of legalizing marijuana. The results would be billions per year in savings from additional tax revenue, in savings from reduced law enforcement and the greatly reduced need for prisons. How many more prisons do we have to build before we figure out that the current policy is not the solution? The United States has a higher percentage of its citizens in prison than any other developed country......what does that say?

In summary, people who want to consume marijuana will do it whether it is legal or not (admitedly more would if it were legal, but those are the law abiding people who would not, in whole, become dangers to society because it becomes legal). Why continue to destroy people's lives by making them career prisoners and continue to fund a violent underground criminal economy?

Bill at 8:23PM on May 4th 2007

9. Viva La Gravel! With the likes of the drugs that are prevalent today (crystal meth, etc.) not to mention PRESCRIPTION DRUGS (Oxyxontin, etc) when you really think about it, marijuana seems harmless. The worst thing I ever did behind the wheel of a car after smoking marijuana was stop at a green light...I've never driven drunk, however, a close friend of mine died two days ago from being hit by a drunk driver, yet buying alcohol is legal. Driving under the influence is illegal, but it happens every day, doesn't it? It doesn't make sense to be letting pedophiles go free when you've got someone taking up jail space who has only been caught with a little weed. It just doesn't make sense no matter how you try to slice it. Marijuana is the LEAST of our worries, I assure you.

dottie at 8:36PM on May 4th 2007

10. Oh gosh, I hope to see it legalized within my lifetime. My family suffers with cancer and Miss Mary Jane is a terrific friend for those who has no interest in food and for pain...it's a wonder drug. As for the few who blame Pot on their own weaknesses and possible mental illnesses, they should hush and take care of their PROBLEMS and not make their PROBLEMS our problems. Got that?
Additionally, we need the tax revenue AND the miriad of benefits of my old friend, Miss Mary Jane. We need more money NOW, to cover the debts piled up during the Bush administration. Debt and war, all that has to be paid for, correct?

Tear out tobacco bases and plant some weed today! :-)

Zoe Infinity at 10:05PM on May 4th 2007

11. They should keep it illegal. Once the governement gets their greedy little hands on any new source of income the prices will go up. Drugs today are better and in some cases cheaper. Coke alone, it a fraction of the price we paid in the 80's. Heroin prices have remained the same for decades, yet quality is up. And the quality of the pot, which I notice is a little more expensive has a quality never seen before.

Screw having the US governement handle my party. They cannot even manage to run healthcare in this country. They screw up everything they get their filthy hands on. Leave this one bastion of hope alone

Stay out of my stash Uncle Sam.

lwreastsidenyc at 10:57PM on May 4th 2007

12. I have a few comments on Drug use. I n my youth I experimented with quite a few different drugs. Any kid today who wants it can get it...Legalizing will probably not increase drug use. I stopped becuase I wanted to, not because it was illegal. I do not think making it illegal stops anyone...but fills up the jails and wastes more lives, and billions of tax payers money. Making drugs legal, will also stop violence. Gangs wont be selling it..an dpeople who need drugs wont become robbers and muggers and killers... I dont think drugs are any worse than drinking.....the bad part is that when people do get hooked, they have to turn to crime to buy it..becuase when things are illegal, the prices becomes prohibitive. Take the illegality away and the price will drop so much, people wont have to get into the business...

DR Tim at 11:14PM on May 4th 2007

13. I will vote for him in the primary.No one else has this kind of honesty and courage.Its an outrage what has been done to marijuana smokers under the pretense of protecting them from marijuana. Its insane that guns are legal and marijuan illegal. Turn guns into bongs then fire away. One day they will look back on this persecution of folks for using herb and they will say how could this have been so? In my community a 21 year old young man was shot in his won home a home he had bought by working overtime since very youn to support his mother .His crime was that he had a quarter ounce and would sell small amounts occasionally.these hooded bastards and cowards in the police department burst into his house in the dead of night and shot him down in front of his mother like he was a rabid dog.The police in Broward county Florida deserve a curse on them for eternity fior this crime.

yanks at 12:05AM on May 5th 2007

14. I am going to vote for this man because of his stance on marijuana. If there was Justice the people who persecute marijuana smokers would be given a trial for crimes against humanity then be put away for long periods of time such as the sentence handed down to pot smokers.I have zero respect for those who support the marijuan persecution.Its outrageous that guns are legal and marijuana is not . Guns should be turned into bongs .

yanks at 12:06AM on May 5th 2007

15. This is not going to fly for two reasons... the mothers of america...
Freedom is fine.. but you need guidance, you need to be told what you are free to do.

The fathers of america...
Freedom is not fine... you'll do what you're damn-well told and like it, punk!

Case closed.

pboyfloyd at 12:36AM on May 5th 2007