I am running for Mayor to address an issue that affects all of us: The War on Drugs. Each year thousands of New Yorkers are arrested and jailed for drugs. This policy has destroyed individual lives, families, and communities, without doing anything to stop the drug trade or help addicts. The drug war folly is at its worst with marijuana, the least dangerous and most popular illegal drug.

Because of the recent Supreme Court decision against medical marijuana, my first goal would be to have the incoming City Council pass a resolution that calls upon the state legislature to establish a comprehensive medical marijuana program. There is no reason why New Yorkers who need marijuana as medicine should suffer because of federal obstinacy, and protecting them would be my first priority. A vote for the Marijuana Reform Party (MRP) is a vote for compassion.

In 1992 there were 720 people arrested in NYC for smoking marijuana. Last year there were 50,830 such arrests, 15% of all city arrests. Many marijuana smokers are incarcerated for as long as 3 days, which can in turn result in more disastrous consequences than the actual use of marijuana. Despite the expenditure of millions of dollars to arrest low-level, non-violent marijuana offenders, there has been no decrease in the use or availability of marijuana in NYC. Moreover, many police officers oppose this policy. If you feel the same way, vote for the MRP and help us to convince the next mayor to stop arresting and jailing marijuana smokers.

Finally, I am working to help the MRP become an official party by getting a minimum of 50,000 votes for our governor candidate next year. The MRP is committed to ending Marijuana Prohibition and needs the active support of those who share our views. I am using my candidacy this year not only to ask for your vote for Mayor, but also for your support in 2002. If you believe the War on Drugs is a counterproductive failure, then help end it by voting for me and the MRP.

For more information visit www.VoteMRP.com or call
212-439-4860.

(Statement reprinted as supplied by the candidate.)