Libertarians pleased by new federal medical marijuana policy

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Libertarian Party (LP) recently expressed its approval of the Obama administration’s new, more laissezfaire policy toward medical marijuana. The policy appears to end the practice of federal prosecution of medical marijuana patients and providers in states where medical marijuana is legal.

Wes Benedict, LP executive director, commented, “This is a small step in the right direction. The federal government currently wastes tremendous resources in the War on Drugs, creating a huge, vicious, violent black market. This new policy will reduce the damage and destruction, and it will hopefully end some of the unjust prosecution of peaceful medical marijuana providers and patients.”

The LP has long called for the repeal of laws that criminalize the medicinal or recreational use of drugs.

Benedict added, “We urge the Obama administration not to stop with this small step, but to take further steps to end the destructive, unjust, unconstitutional War on Drugs.”

The LP is America’s third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets and civil liberties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at http://www.lp.org/.

This is part of the October 28, 2009 online edition of Frost Illustrated.

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