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BOROUGH PRESIDENT | MANHATTAN
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GARRY GOODROW |
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Marijuana Reform Party
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Party Enrolled
In: Marijuana Reform
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Occupation:
(Not supplied.)
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Occupational Background:
(Not supplied.)
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Educational Background:
(Not supplied.)
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Organizational
Affiliations: (Not supplied.)
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Prior Public Experience:
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Throughout a lifetime of work as a musician, actor
and writer, Garry Goodrow has been deeply involved
in many social justice causes. For the past several
years, he has been working hard in the fight against
the so-called “War On Drugs,” especially New York’s
Rockefeller Drug Laws, which are among the harshest
in the nation. His opposition to the drug war comes
from witnessing the communities and families that
have been torn apart by fathers, mothers, sons and
daughters being incarcerated under the Rockefeller
laws.
Because of such laws, the United States imprisons
its citizens at a higher rate than that of any other
country in the world. We can now boast of having one
of the world’s largest prison populations — more
than 2 million individuals. If the growth rate in
convictions for non-violent crime continues, we will
have 6 million under lock and key by 2010. This is
obviously ridiculous and shameful.
Compared to hard drugs, alcohol, or tobacco,
marijuana is a relatively safe, natural plant and is
overwhelmingly the most popular of all the
substances deemed illegal in the USA. By equating
marijuana with more harmful drugs (like heroin and
cocaine) that are typically inner city problems,
politicians are able gain the support of millions of
Americans for a drug war that targets low-level,
non-violent marijuana offenders.
The $20 billion-plus annual budget for “fighting
drugs” would be put at risk if marijuana were taken
off the menu, and that would affect the pocketbooks
of a great many people — undercover agents,
prosecutors, prison-industrial bureaucrats,
money-laundering banks, police departments, etc.
That is why marijuana remains on the proscribed
list. Because above all else, the War On Drugs is
about money. The fact that it needlessly ruins so
many lives is considered “collateral damage.”
“It’s time for true reform. I am running for
Manhattan Borough President in order to raise the
urgent questions. If elected, I will use the powers
of that office to push for meaningful change on the
local level while not neglecting the many other
duties that accrue.”
For more information visit www.MarijuanaReform.org
or call 212-439-4860.
(Statement reprinted as supplied by the candidate.)
Not participating in the NYC
Campaign Finance Program.
View
Candidate Statement Disclaimer
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