Pubdate: Mon, 13 Oct 2014
Source: Bradenton Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Bradenton Herald
Contact: http://www.bradenton.com/submit-letter/
Website: http://www.bradenton.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

MAKE ALL MARIJUANA LEGAL, SAYS FLORIDA LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE ADRIAN WYLLIE

ST. PETERSBURG -- Republican Gov. Rick Scott opposes the amendment
that would make medical marijuana legal in Florida. His Democratic
challenger, former Gov. Charlie Crist, favors it.

And then there's the Libertarian candidate in the race, Adrian Wyllie,
who thinks even recreational marijuana should be legal.

"Philosophically, I don't believe the government has the authority to
tell peaceful adults what they can or can put into their body," said
Wyllie, who is polling at about 6 percent among likely voters.

By definition, the Libertarian party believes government should not
interfere with how people live their lives. So Wyllie, the former
chairman of the Libertarian Party of Florida, hasn't surprised anyone
with his stance.

The third-party candidate appeared on Bay News 9's Political
Connections on Sunday (Bright House Networks On-Demand Ch. 999) and
also sat down with reporter Cait McVey. Wyllie said he strongly favors
Amendment 2.

"I support medical marijuana completely, but I'm the only candidate in
this race who supports full legalization of marijuana," he said.

To critics who contend that would create more crime and abuse, he says
legalizing marijuana completely would have the opposite effect. "I say
to those people they need to wake up to reality, because a significant
number of the people of Florida right now are using marijuana on a
regular basis," he said. "I don't think legalizing it is going to make
any dramatic change in that.

"It's just like prohibition. The only time we had people killing each
in the streets over alcohol was during prohibition. That's what we
have now: We have prohibition of marijuana, which creates the drug
cartels, the street gangs, all the violence associated with the black
market. If we were to legalize it, we actually take all of that way,
and also save the money and the shattered lives of all the people who
are incarcerated for possession of what is essentially a plant."

Wyllie said that if he could, he would not only decriminalize
marijuana, but would also release currently serving time solely for
possession of what Florida classifies as a Schedule 1 drug.

"I would pardon anyone who has been convicted solely for marijuana
possession. Any non-violent offender," he said. "Because I don't
believe that's the role of government."

Wyllie has also made news in recent years for surrendering his
driver's license in protest of the federal Real ID law. It was
developed by the Department of Homeland Security in 2005 in response
to the 9/11 attacks and requires anyone renewing a driver's license or
identification card to provide multiple documents.

On Political Connections, he explained why he still doesn't have a
valid license. "The real ID act of 2005 is a blatant violation of our
Fourth Amendment rights, and if your viewers have a gold star on the
driver's, they know what I mean," he said.

An offical Real ID license has a star in the upper right
corner.

Wyllie said he wants to be governor because he wants to "get
government out of our wallets, out of our bedrooms out of business and
restore some common sense, honesty and decency" to the governor's mansion.  
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MAP posted-by: Richard