For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON – Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle has endorsed Proposition 19 on the November ballot in California. The measure would legalize marijuana in California.

Hinkle said, “I urge Californians to vote for Proposition 19. The War on Drugs has created tremendous damage in California and throughout America, and this will help stop that damage. A vote for Prop 19 is a vote for justice and common sense.

“Passing Prop 19 will also help to reduce drug-trafficking violence at the Mexico border. Unfortunately, many Democratic and Republican politicians are probably in agreement with violent drug lords that marijuana prohibition should be maintained at all costs.”

Hinkle is a California resident.

A 2009 study published by the Cato Institute noted that after Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001, “postdecriminalization usage rates have remained roughly the same or even decreased slightly when compared with other EU states,” and “drug-related pathologies — such as sexually transmitted diseases and deaths due to drug usage — have decreased dramatically.”

The Libertarian Party has opposed the federal and state War on Drugs throughout its history.

The Libertarian Party platform states, “We favor the repeal of all laws creating ‘crimes’ without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes.” (Section 1.2, Personal Privacy)

The Libertarian Party has 21 candidates for U.S. Senate and 169 candidates for U.S. House in the upcoming November 2010 elections.

For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

The LP is America’s third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website .

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