Before the prohibition of cannabis in the United States, some of the nation's Founding Fathers and presidents grew hemp. Politicians who have admitted to recreational use of the drug prior to its decriminalization or legalization include mayors, governors, members of the U.S. Congress, vice presidents and presidents.
Background
In the United States, cannabis was initially grown for industrial reasons, though it quickly became a staple medicinal product in the early 19th century and recreational use became more prevalent during the 20th century. Harry J. Anslinger, the commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, responded to political pressure to ban marijuana at a nationwide level. The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 created an expensive excise tax, and included penalty provisions and elaborate rules of enforcement to which marijuana, cannabis, or hemp handlers, were subject. Mandatory sentencing and increased punishment were enacted when the U.S. Congress passed the Boggs Act of 1951 and the Narcotics Control Act of 1956.
During the counterculture of the 1960s, attitudes towards marijuana and drug abuse policy changed as marijuana use among "white middle-class college students" became widespread. In Leary v. United States (1969), the U.S. Supreme Court held the Marihuana Tax Act to be unconstitutional since it violated the Fifth Amendment. In response, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, which repealed the Marihuana Tax Act.Pub. L. No. 91–513, 84 Stat. 1236 (October 27, 1973). In 1972, the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse concluded that marijuana should be decriminalized, but that public use and driving while intoxicated should remain illegal. By the end of the decade, several states had decriminalized the drug, while many others weakened their laws against cannabis use.
A wave of conservatism during the 1980s allowed president Ronald Reagan to accelerate the war on drugs, prompting anti-drug campaigns such as the "Just Say No" campaign of first lady Nancy Reagan. Federal penalties for cultivation, possession, or transfer of marijuana were increased by the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 and the Anti-Drug Abuse Acts of 1986 and 1988. Since California voters passed the 1996 California Proposition 215, which legalized medical cannabis, several states have followed suit. However, United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative (2001) rejected the common-law medical necessity defense to crimes enacted under the Controlled Substances Act because Congress concluded that cannabis has "no currently accepted medical use" and Gonzales v. Raich (2005) concluded that the Commerce Clause of Article One of the U.S. Constitution allowed the federal government to ban the use of cannabis, including medical use. Today, cannabis remains classified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act, and possession is punishable by up to one year in jail and a minimum fine of $1,000 for a first conviction.
List of politicians who farmed hemp
NameLifetimeHighest positionParty President of PennsylvaniaIndependent President of the United StatesDemocratic-Republican President of the United StatesDemocratic-Republican President of the United StatesIndependent United States Secretary of State, United States Senator KentuckyDemocratic-Republican, National Republican and Whig Parties
Use prior to decriminalization
NameLifetimeHighest positionParty County Executive of Westchester CountyRepublicanJimmy Vielkind, Rob Astorino 'smoked a couple of joints' in college, Politico New York (March 7, 2014). Governor of Arizona, United States Secretary of the InteriorDemocratic Mayor of New York CityDemocratic United States Senator from New JerseyDemocratic President of the United StatesRepublican Governor of FloridaRepublican United States Secretary of TransportationDemocratic Governor of MassachusettsRepublican United States Senator from Rhode Island, Governor of Rhode IslandLibertarian United States Senator from Florida, Governor of FloridaDemocratic President of the United StatesDemocratic United States Representative from TennesseeDemocratic Attorney General of KentuckyDemocratic United States Senator from TexasRepublican Governor of New York Democratic Mayor of New York CityDemocratic Jillian Jorgensen, Bill de Blasio Says He Hasn't Smoked Weed Since College, New York Observer (November 19, 2015). Governor of VermontDemocratic Auditor of MassachusettsDemocratic Lieutenant Governor of New YorkRepublican United States Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentDemocratic United States Senator from North CarolinaDemocratic United States Representative from GeorgiaRepublican Vice President of the United StatesDemocratic Vice President of the United StatesDemocraticKamala Harris says she smoked marijuana in college while listening to music that didn't exist yet, Washington Times (February 12, 2019) Governor of New Hampshire, United States Senator from New HampshireDemocraticGov. Hassan says she smoked marijuana while in college, New Hampshire Union Leader (February 10, 2014) United States Senator from Colorado, Governor of ColoradoDemocratic Governor of IndianaRepublican Governor of New MexicoLibertarian United States Representative from New YorkDemocratic Governor of OhioRepublicanKhalil AlHajal, John Kasich annoyed by question on whether he's smoked marijuana, MLive (March 8, 2016). United States Representative from MassachusettsDemocratic United States Secretary of StateDemocratic Mayor of New York CityDemocratic Governor of ColoradoDemocratic United States Senator from FloridaRepublican United States Deputy Secretary of EnergyRepublican United States Representative from WashingtonRepublican United States Representative from New YorkRepublican United States Representative from VirginiaDemocratic United States Representative from MassachusettsDemocratic Lieutenant Governor of MassachusettsDemocratic Governor of New JerseyDemocratic United States Representative from MassachusettsDemocratic President of the United StatesDemocratic Governor of AlaskaRepublican Governor of New YorkRepublican Governor of New YorkDemocratic United States Representative from New YorkDemocratic United States Senator from Rhode IslandDemocratic United States Senator from Ohio, U.S. Trade RepresentativeRepublican Governor of IllinoisDemocratic United States Representative from CaliforniaRepublican United States Senator from VermontIndependent United States Senator from PennsylvaniaRepublican Governor of CaliforniaRepublican Lieutenant Governor of PennsylvaniaRepublican Governor of OklahomaRepublican New York City ComptrollerDemocratic New York City ComptrollerDemocratic United States Representative from MassachusettsRepublican Governor of MinnesotaIndependent United States Secretary of the TreasuryDemocratic (at 20:30)
Parties
See also List of British politicians who have acknowledged cannabis use
Notes
References Citations
Works cited