Difference between revisions of "List of United States politicians who admit to cannabis use"

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(List of politicians who farmed hemp)
(List of politicians who farmed hemp)
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| List of Governors of Pennsylvania|President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania
 
| List of Governors of Pennsylvania|President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania
 
| bgcolor="EEEEEE" align="center"[Independent (politician)|Independent
 
| bgcolor="EEEEEE" align="center"[Independent (politician)|Independent

Revision as of 09:12, 31 January 2015

Cannabis is a drug and, as hemp, a source for fibers, oil and seed. Prior to its prohibition, U.S. politicians known for growing hemp include some of the nation's Founding Fathers and presidents. Politicians who have admitted to recreational use of the drug during prohibition include mayors, governors, members of the House of Representatives, Senators and presidents.

List of politicians who farmed hemp

Name Lifetime Highest position Party
Benjamin Franklin 1706–1790 President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania Independent
Thomas Jefferson 1743–1826 President of the United States Democratic-Republican Party|Democratic-Republican
Madison 1751–1836 President of the United States Democratic-Republican Party|Democratic-Republican
Washington 1732–1799 President of the United States Independent (politician)|Independent
Parties

Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2

During prohibition

In the U.S., cannabis was initially grown for industrial reasons, though recreational use spread quickly during the 20th century. Harry J. Anslinger, Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, responded to political pressure to ban marijuana at a nationwide level. The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 created an expensive excise tax, and included penalty provisions and elaborate rules of enforcement to which marijuana, cannabis, or hemp handlers were subject. Mandatory sentencing and increased punishment were enacted when the United States Congress passed the Boggs Act of 1952 and the Narcotics Control Act of 1956.


During the counterculture of the 1960s, attitudes towards marijuana and drug abuse policy changed as use became widespread among "white middle-class college students". In Leary v. United States (1969), the Supreme Court held the Marihuana Tax Act to be unconstitutional since it violated the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution privilege against self-incrimination. In response, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, which repealed the Marihuana Tax Act. In 1972, the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse concluded that marijuana should be decriminalized, but that public use and driving while intoxicated should remain illegal. By the end of the decade, several states had decriminalized the drug, while many others weakened their laws against cannabis use.


However, a wave of conservatism during the 1980s allowed president Ronald Reagan to accelerate the War on Drugs during his presidency, prompting anti-drug campaigns such as the "Just Say No" campaign of First Lady Nancy Reagan. Federal penalties for cultivation, possession, or transfer of marijuana were increased by the Comprehensive Crime Control Act (1984), the Anti-Drug Abuse Act (1986), and the Anti-Drug Abuse Amendment Act (1988). Since California voters passed the Proposition 215 in 1996, which legalized medical cannabis, several states have followed suit. However, United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative (2001) rejected the common-law medical necessity defense to crimes enacted under the Controlled Substances Act because Congress concluded that cannabis has "no currently accepted medical use", and Gonzales v. Raich (2005) concluded that the Commerce Clause of the Constitution allowed the federal government to ban the use of cannabis, including medical use. Today, cannabis remains classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, and possession is punishable by up to one year in jail and a minimum fine of $1,000 for a first conviction.


Use by politicians during prohibition

Politicians that have admitted to recreational use during prohibition include mayors, governors, members of the House of Representatives, Senators and presidents.

Template:Dynamic list

Name Lifetime Highest position Party Ref.
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Governor of Arizona, Secretary of the Interior Democratic <ref name=Gainesville>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Mayor of New York City Independent <ref name=Bloomberg>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sort name Template:Sort Senator from New Jersey Democratic <ref name=Barabak>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sort name Template:Sort President of the United States Republican <ref name=Taipei-Bush-Admits-To-Smoking-Pot>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Attorney General of Kentucky Democratic <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Governor of Massachusetts Republican <ref name=Register-Guard>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Senator from Rhode Island, Governor of Rhode Island Independent <ref name=Chafee>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Senator from Florida, Governor of Florida Democratic <ref name=Chiles>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort President of the United States Democratic <ref name=Clinton>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Member of the House of Representatives Democratic <ref name=Nashville>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Governor of New York Democratic <ref name=CuomoPataki>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Governor of Vermont, Chair of the Democratic National Committee Democratic <ref name=AustinChronicle>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Auditor of Massachusetts Democratic <ref name=Register-Guard/>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Lieutenant Governor of New York Republican <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Senator from North Carolina Democratic <ref name=AustinChronicle/>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Republican <ref name=Gainesville/>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Vice President of the United States Democratic <ref name=Gore>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Governor of New Mexico Libertarian <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sort name Template:Sort Member of the House of Representatives Democratic <ref name=Register-Guard/>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Secretary of State Democratic <ref name=AustinChronicle/>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Member of the House of Representatives, Mayor of New York City Democratic <ref name=Koch>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Governor of Colorado Democratic <ref name=Lamm>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Senator from Florida Republican <ref name=Chiles/>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy Republican <ref name=MoranMcSlarrow>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Member of the House of Representatives Republican <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Member of the House of Representatives Republican <ref name=Molinari>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Member of the House of Representatives Democratic <ref name=MoranMcSlarrow/>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Democratic <ref name=Register-Guard/>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Member of the House of Representatives Democratic <ref name=Register-Guard/>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort President of the United States Democratic <ref name=Obama>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Governor of Alaska Republican <ref name=Palin>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Governor of New York Republican <ref name=CuomoPataki/>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Governor of New York Democratic <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Member of the House of Representatives Democratic <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Senator from Rhode Island Democratic <ref name=Gainesville/>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Member of the House of Representatives Republican <ref name=Rohrabacher>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Senator from Pennsylvania Republican <ref name=Santorum>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Governor of California Republican <ref name=Schwarzenegger>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania Republican <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort New York City Comptroller Democratic <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Member of the House of Representatives Republican <ref name=Register-Guard/>
Template:Sortname Template:Sort Governor of Minnesota Independent <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Parties

Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2 Template:Clear

See also

Cannabis in the United States

Decriminalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States

Legal history of cannabis in the United States

List of British politicians who admit to cannabis use