Rob Sand, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, said at a town hall in Dubuque on Monday that legalizing and taxing cannabis can be part of solving the state’s $1.3 annual budget deficit. Sand, who is currently Iowa’s state auditor, explained why he thinks marijuana should be legalized and treated like alcohol, even if he thinks it’s “dangerous.” He stated, “Marijuana is a dangerous drug,” he said. “You shouldn’t abuse it, but we also shouldn’t throw people in prison just for using it.
We should treat it the way we treat alcohol. Alcohol is a dangerous drug. You shouldn’t abuse it, but we don’t throw you in prison just for having a beer when you get home.”
Sand detailed how he would explain his support for the reform to people who voice concerns. For people who say they don’t want to smell marijuana, the candidate would say, “Me neither. No smoking in public.” “That’s a pretty simple rule to have,” he said.
“Just like alcohol, you can’t be drinking it out in public, can you?”
In response to people who express concerns about kids getting access to THC-infused gummies and candy, Sand would say, “That’s a good point too. Let’s ban things that are colorful and look like candy and any kind of colorful marketing that looks like it’s aimed towards kids, just like we do with alcohol.”
“You guys remember Joe Camel? R.I.P. Joe Camel, right?” he said, referring to the former cigarette mascot the that R.
J. Reynolds Tobacco Company stopped using in response to claims he appealed to children. “We’ve done this with cigarettes.
We’ve done this with alcohol. We should do this with marijuana.”
Sand’s campaign said legalizing recreational marijuana for adults would bring tax revenue back to Iowa that residents currently spend in other states. Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Dave Muhlbauer said he and Sand would regulate marijuana for adults similarly to alcohol if elected. “Truly an age limit, you know it has to be for adults very much like how alcohol is regulated.
We want to put a framework around it, limit marketing and advertising, no public consumption.”
Muhlbauer toured Ember Recovery in Cambridge, where staff and advocates raised concerns about the potential impact of legalization on young people. Andrew Allen, CEO of Youth Standing Strong, said legalizing recreational marijuana for adults could send the wrong message to children. “Our concern is that legalized recreational marijuana means a reduced perception of risk, more kids potentially using, and more investments that we’re going to have to make as a state from a treatment standpoint,” Allen said.
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