Marijuana Advocacy Group Rates Republican Candidates in Advance of Debate

The Marijuana Policy Project, a pro-legalization advocacy group, has re-released its scorecard of candidates’ stand on marijuana in advance of tonight’s Republican debate in Colorado.

In 2012, Colorado and Washington were the first two states to approve measures that allow recreational cultivation and use of marijuana among adults 21 of years or older within each state.

Marijuana legalization is a delicate topic for Republican candidates, The New York Times reports. Candidates want to show support for protecting individual and state rights, while not condoning people getting high, the article notes.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky received an A-minus from the Marijuana Policy Project. He has called for decriminalizing recreational use of marijuana, and wants states to be able to decide their own marijuana laws.

Former Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas recently said the federal government should not interfere with state marijuana policies. That boosted his rating from a D to a B-.

Donald J. Trump received a C rating. In 1990, he said he favored legalizing all drugs, but more recently he has said he opposes legalizing and regulating marijuana for adult use, according to the group.

Carly Fiorina received a C-plus. She supports decriminalization and the rights of voters to make their own decisions about marijuana policy. She has said she is against marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes.

Ben Carson received a D rating for promising to strengthen the war on drugs and to have the federal government crack down on states that legalize marijuana. He has said he favors prescribing marijuana for medical use in some cases.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie received an F for promising to crack down on marijuana, even in states that have legalized it.