Bernie Sanders urges Californians to vote in favor of Marijuana Legalization

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on May 24, 2016.

The Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders on Sunday asked the Californians to vote in favor of marijuana legalization for recreational use. The Vermont senator, who supports the decriminalization of marijuana by the federal government, is campaigning in California ahead of the state’s June 7 primary.

Sanders revealed that though he had not yet studied the California measure to legalize marijuana, he voiced his approval for marijuana law reform in the state. “I do not live in California,” Sanders told supporters at a rally in San Jose. “But if I lived in California, I would vote ‘yes’ to legalize marijuana.”

In his address, Sanders further said that he had already introduced legislation and would implement as President, taking marijuana out of the federal controlled substance act. He said, “Now all you know, all you know, that the legalization of marijuana, that decision is made on the statewide level. You know that four states plus D.C. have already made that decision. You all know there's going to be a ballot item on in California in November. And I think it makes sense to legalize marijuana at this particular point. So if I were here in your state, I would vote yes on that issue.”

Sanders’ endorsement is consistent with statements made in other states that are currently discussing cannabis legalization, as well as his official policy to end federal prohibition and legalize both the recreational and medical use of marijuana.

Meanwhile, signatures are being collected across California in favor of the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), the state’s leading initiative to legalize marijuana. The Californians will likely be voting this November whether to legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

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