FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Contact: Violet Cavendish
vcavendish@mpp.org

Marijuana Policy Project Launches Updated Presidential Candidate Voter Guide for the General Election, Adds Third-party Candidates

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who was nominated Sundayby the Libertarian Party, and physician Jill Stein, the presumptive Green Party nominee, both received ‘A+’ grades, rounding out the ‘most marijuana-friendly field of presidential candidates in history’

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, the nation’s largest marijuana policy organization, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), launched an updated presidential candidate voter guide for the general election, which now includes third-party candidates. The guide is available online at https://www.mpp.org/president.

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who was nominated Sunday by the Libertarian Party, and physician Jill Stein, the presumptive Green Party nominee, both received “A+” grades. Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump received a “C+,” and the two remaining Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, received a “B” and an “A,” respectively.

“This is the most marijuana-friendly field of presidential candidates in history,” said Robert Capecchi, MPP director of federal policies. “All of the candidates support legal access to medical marijuana, and most of them support making it legal for adults and regulating it like alcohol. Even the least friendly candidate agrees that states should be able to able to determine their own marijuana laws without federal interference.”

Johnson has openly discussed his use of medical marijuana, and he served as CEO of a medical marijuana business prior to stepping down to run for president. Stein has cited her medical background when discussing marijuana and highlighted its relative safety compared to alcohol and tobacco.

“Gov. Johnson and Dr. Stein are both exceptionally sensible on this issue,” Capecchi said. “They both have backgrounds that provide them with more insight into the subject than their counterparts in the major parties.”

MPP graded the candidates based on actions they have taken and statements they have made that indicate their levels of support for ending marijuana prohibition, allowing legal access to medical marijuana, and defending states’ rights to adopt their own marijuana policies without interference from the federal government. The guide only includes candidates who will appear on enough state ballots to win the Electoral College vote.

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Founded in 1995, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the nation’s leading cannabis policy reform organization. MPP has played a central role in passing dozens of cannabis policy reforms in states across the country, including 14 successful cannabis legalization campaigns, and also works to advance federal reforms.

Visit www.mpp.org for more information.