

Arvin Vohra

From Libertarian National Committee Vice Chair Arvin Vohra:

“To all Sanders supporters,

“So many of you supported Senator Sanders because of his opposition to the War on Drugs. You know that ending the War on Drugs will make America safer by eliminating prohibition-related violence and allowing drug businesses to settle their disputes in court. You also consider the drug war entirely hypocritical, given the drug-use histories of Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton.

“Sadly, Sec. Clinton has chosen one of the largest drug-war supporters in the Democratic Party as her running mate. Tim Kaine has a history of expanding the War on Drugs, including expanding the role of state police in the War on Drugs. He has repeatedly opposed legalizing marijuana or ending the Drug War.

“If she had wanted to respond to the desires of Democratic voters, she might have chosen Sen. Sanders as her running mate.

“With Kaine, Sec. Clinton has shown that she values the status quo over political responsiveness. Choosing such a major supporter of the War on Drugs as her running mate shows she is completely oblivious to the changes the vast majority of Democratic voters want to see.

“Almost every Sanders supporter, and most Democratic voters, want to see an end to the War on Drugs.

“After all, ending the War on Drugs will eliminate the black-market profits associated with drugs, defunding violent cartels. It will allow drug businesses to settle disputes using the safeguards found in the rest of the free market, instead of resorting to violence. Drug buyers who felt shortchanged could simply call their credit-card companies or write bad reviews on Yelp, instead of shooting people.

“Police could focus on real crime, like robbery, rape, assault, and murder, instead of victimless drug ‘crimes.’ For example, the hundreds of thousands of rape kits sitting in evidence lockers could finally be analyzed, since resources would no longer be wasted on the drug war.

“Families would be reunited as nonviolent drug users were set free. Other families would save hundreds of dollars a year on their taxes, and could use that for better education, charity, food, and even entertainment.

“The good news for the Democrats who want to see an end to the War on Drugs: you have another option. Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico, has opposed the Drug War since the 1990s. So has his running mate, Bill Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts. And they’re the only alternative party that will be on the ballot in all 50 states, plus D.C.

“Before you vote, please take a look at Gary Johnson’s positions and track record. And if you support him, please endorse him and vote for him.”

– Arvin Vohra, Vice Chair, Libertarian National Committee