Bob Barr on Drugs

Libertarian for President; Former Republican Representative (GA-7)

Favors the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes

Barr said, "With regard to domestic policy, Sen. McCain really has put forward nothing that would indicate he believes in dramatically shrinking the size and cost of the government. He does talk a great game about doing away with earmarks, but that really does not get near to the heart of the matter of the massive federal spending, the massive federal debt and the deficits we're running."

Despite his open appeal to conservatives, Barr's recent renunciations of Republican backed legislation will limit his appeal among movement conservatives. Barr has changed his mind and now strongly opposes the war, condemns the Patriot Act as a violation of civil liberties, criticizes efforts to restrict rights of homosexuals, and even favors the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.

Source: Alternative Party News on www.dcpoliticalreport.com Jun 17, 2008

No national nannies: leave smokers alone

When all of the leading politicians agree on a policy in Washington, "you can bet the house that the public interest will suffer," observes Bob Barr. So it is with proposed legislation to expand the authority of the Food & Drug Administration to tobacco.

We all know that smoking is bad for people's health, but most of us also believe that America remains a free country, in which people should be able to make mistakes. Yet for years "would-be national nannies have been attempting to give the FDA the power to regulate cigarettes and other tobacco products," says Barr. The latest proposal is moving through Congress with the support of the Republican and Democratic presidential contenders.

But "the last thing we need today is more regulation and more bureaucrats, which inevitably means less freedom," explains Barr. People know smoking is bad for their health, which is why ever fewer people light up. Washington should leave smokers and other tobacco users alone.

Source: Press Release, "Criticizes FDA Regulation of Tobacco" Jun 3, 2008

In Congress, a strong supporter of the War on Drugs

After entering the House of Representatives in 1995, Georgia Republican Bob Barr acquired a reputation as one of the most conservative members of Congress. It was Barr who in 1996 wrote the Defense of Marriage Act; it was Barr who protested when he learned the military allowed soldiers to practice Wicca. A former federal prosecutor, a firm social conservative, and a strong supporter of the War on Drugs, Barr doesn't fit most people's image of a civil libertarian. Source: Jesse Walker, in Reason Magazine, "right wing of the ACLU" Dec 1, 2003

Voted YES on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism.

Amendment to set up a task force on counter-terrorism and drug interdiction and allow military personnel to help patrol U.S. borders. Bill HR 2586 ; vote number 2001-356 on Sep 25, 2001

Voted YES on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC.

Vote to pass a bill that provides $429.1 million in funds for the District of Columbia and approves the District's $6.8 billion budget. Among other provisions, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds for needle exchange programs, prohibits implementing an approved ballot initiative to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana. Reference: Bill sponsored by Istook, R-OK; Bill HR 3064 ; vote number 1999-504 on Oct 14, 1999

Ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs.

Barr co-sponsored banning federal funding for needle-exchange programs

To prohibit the expenditure of Federal funds for the distribution of needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of illegal drugs. Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit Federal funds from being expended to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of illegal drugs.

Source: Keep Drug Needles Off the Streets Act (H.R.982) 1999-H982 on Mar 4, 1999

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Page last updated: Jul 04, 2008