Sarah Palin Marijuana

Former governor of Alaska and former Republican presidential candidate John McCain's running mate Sarah Palin admitted that she smoked marijuana in her youth. The admission was made to the Anchorage Daily News during an 2006 interview. She was quoted as saying "I can't claim a Bill Clinton and say that I never inhaled."http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/29/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4397109.shtml?weed

In June of 2010, Palin stated that she was "not for the legalization of pot" because she believed it "would just encourage our young people to think that it was okay to go ahead and use it." She went on to say that law enforcement should be prioritized because "If somebody's gonna smoke a joint in their house and not do anybody any harm, then perhaps there are other things our cops should be looking at to engage in and try to clean up some of the other problems we have in society."http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38660.html

In April 2010, NSML, Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws, to offered Palin $25,000 to give a keynote speech at one of their events calling for reforms to marijuana laws, according to the Marijuana Policy Project. This came after Palin was scheduled in early April of 2010 to give a speech supporting the national convention for the Wines and Spirits Wholesalers of America.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/05/sarah-palin-marijuana-law_n_525597.html The NSML has stated that they will guarantee a $25,000 check to Palin provided she speaks in favor of marijuana law reform.

Though Palin had never technically supported the idea of reforming marijuana laws or legalizing Marijuana, the NSML hoped that her support for the consumption of alcohol will present a natural extension of marijuana legalization. NSML campaign manager Dave Schwartz stated that, since alcohol is directly blamed for thousands of American deaths, while marijuana is attributed to none, Palin's endorsement seemed quite rational and likely.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/05/sarah-palin-marijuana-law_n_525597.html

Schwartz argued that "It makes no sense to keep marijuana in the criminal market while a former vice-presidential candidate celebrates the alcohol industry...We want legitimate businesspeople in Nevada to benefit from the sales of marijuana, and we want adults to be free to choose whichever substance they prefer --marijuana or alcohol -- when they relax after work."http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/05/sarah-palin-marijuana-law_n_525597.html

"I can't claim a Bill Clinton and say that I never inhaled."—Sarah PalinAlaska Daily News: Same-sex unions, drugs get little play (August 6, 2006)