For decades, both Democrats and Republicans have skirted around marijuana reform, but only one party has stood firmly for full legalization since day one: the Libertarian Party.
Founded in 1971, the Libertarian Party emerged in direct contrast to President Nixon’s newly declared War on Drugs. Its first platform, adopted a year later, called for the legalization of all drugs—a radical stance for its time.
Under the crime plank, it states: “We favor the repeal of all laws creating ‘crimes without victims,’ such as laws on voluntary sexual relations, drug use, gambling, and attempts to commit suicide.”
In 1972, the Libertarian Party chose its first presidential and vice presidential candidates, John Hospers and Tonie Nathan. Hospers was a philosophy professor at the University of Southern California. His book, Libertarianism: A Political Philosophy for Tomorrow, served as a campaign book, a treatise on the libertarian philosophy, and the foundation for the libertarian movement. Nathan was a talk show host and business owner, and was the first woman to receive an electoral vote.
The New York Times coverage of the 1972 presidential campaign listed the legalization of marijuana as part of their platform, while other candidates did not.
This was unique at the time because neither of the major parties supported the legalization of marijuana. Richard Nixon continued to oppose marijuana legalization despite the Shafer Commission’s finding that marijuana was not dangerous. The Democratic Candidate George McGovern supported decriminalization, but not the legalization of marijuana.
While other candidates disregarded the issue, the Libertarian Party’s stance on cannabis never wavered. More than 50 years later, it remains one of the few political parties to have maintained that same commitment to individual freedom and legalization.
Libertarians strongly believe that it is up to the individual to decide what is best for themselves as long as …
Read More
Author: Caitlin Peters / High Times
