Libertarian Candidate for Governor
1. Do you currently support the use of medical marijuana for people who have debilitating conditions including chronic pain?
Yes. And I worked hard to help pass the measure in 2008.
2. Do you currently support medical marijuana cultivation facilities and provisioning centers?
Yes. At the recent Libertarian Party Summit, I authored a resolution that prohibits local units of government from preventing access to these facilities. It was the only measure to pass unanimously.
3. Do you currently support the legal cultivation and sales of cannabis to adults that do not have a debilitating medical condition?
Yes. In my “Campaign Kick-off” event, I identified legalization as a key part of my overall plan to fix the Michigan budget. I also believe that “use” by adults is a protected Natural Right, much as some folks see the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms.
4. Do you currently support the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol proposal to regulate and tax cannabis for adults over 21?
Yes. I have two specific caveats that my larger plan addresses. I believe the additional taxes on marijuana are too high (as they are on alcohol). My “Drop the Cap” plan, which can be read at my website, is designed to ensure that any excessive revenue brought in as a result of legalization will be refunded to the taxpayers. The 2nd concern involves patients. We need a sales tax exemption built into the law — so, the cumbersome measures in the MMMA can be circumvented and those with medical needs more easily met.
5. Do you support the position that adults 21 and over should have the ability to cultivate cannabis at their residence?
Yes. My libertarian principles respect the “King in their castle” tradition of law leaving peaceful people alone.
6. Do you support the position that people who consume cannabis responsibly should be subjected to employment discrimination?
My position on workplace activity follows very much in the tradition of Governor Gary Johnson (Libertarian Presidential Candidate in 2016). When an employer or employee enters “the public square”, their individual liberties are now subject to a mixed set of rights.
Generally, I support an employer setting standards of employment — which may include some reasonable assessment of competence. (you can’t come to work drunk….and, you can’t come to work high). But, I don’t support testing people — even for drugs. And I don’t believe an employer should be able to hire/fire people based on outside activities.
For what it’s worth….employment law continues to evolve. A Governor is not and should not be a King. I would work with the legislature to protect people from misapplication of the principle of employer rights — while recognizing that certain classifications of jobs (driving a school bus) may require special treatment.
7. Do you support the position that people who consume cannabis responsibly should be subjected to housing discrimination?
No. However, if the housing unit (or hotel), or other public space is non-smoking, a cannabis user should be treated equally. I don’t believe it’s a legitimate question for a housing unit to ask.
8. Do you support private clubs where people can socially consume cannabis products?
Yes. While I personally am a non-smoker (of any kind), I oppose the restaurant ban and other general bans in public spaces of cigarettes, too. Businesses should decide if their business wants to allow such conduct. This principle applies to cannabis.
9. If Michigan voters legalize cannabis for adults, would you support the expungement of cannabis convictions from people’s criminal record?
Yes. But short of that cooperation from the legislature, I would pardon anyone currently in the system (prison, parole, or probation) whose conviction was not in conjunction with a violent act. Prohibition is a stain on our history and must end.
10. Are there any additional comments you wish to make?
I welcome the opportunity to stand with others to finally change the law and restore the Natural Rights of Citizens to be left alone by their government to peacefully use cannabis. There are enormous commercial opportunities in hemp that need to be explored.
The time to change this is now — and my campaign has made this a front-and-center issue to bring about change in 2018. Anyone with further questions or a desire to get involved can e-mail: [email protected] Cheers!