Dr. Sharief is in favor of legalizing and regulating cannabis for adult recreational use, writing, "I support legalizing and regulating the responsible use of marijuana by adults to uphold personal freedom, enhance public health and safety through regulation, address social justice concerns, stimulate economic growth, support medical research, and reduce crime associated with the illicit market...Supporting the legalization of marijuana promotes personal freedom, public health, social justice, economic growth, and medical research. It acknowledges individual rights, ensures safer consumption, addresses disparities in law enforcement, boosts the economy through taxation, reduces crime, and supports medical advancements." (Candidate Survey Response)

A proponent of states' rights, Dr. Sharief continued, "I support ending the federal prohibition of marijuana to allow states to make laws that are consistent with public opinion in their state. Lifting the prohibition would also reform the criminal justice system and decrease incarceration rates. Additionally, it would stimulate economic growth, enhance public health and safety of products being sold through regulation. in the medical profession we have been using medical marijuana to stimulate the appetite of cancer patients for years and lifting the federal prohibition could promote scientific research to help us to see what other benefits can be derived from the Marijuana plant." (Candidate Survey Response)

"I believe in the automatic expungement of non-violent marijuana possession convictions because it's a matter of fairness and justice. For too long, individuals carrying these convictions have faced unnecessary barriers to employment, housing, and education, hindering their ability to move forward in life. By expunging these records automatically, we can right past wrongs and give people a chance to rebuild their futures without the stigma of minor, outdated offenses. This approach not only promotes equity in our justice system but also redirects resources towards addressing more serious crimes and improving public safety. It's about ensuring everyone has a fair opportunity to thrive and contribute positively to our communities, unburdened by past mistakes that no longer reflect current societal values regarding marijuana." (Candidate Survey Response)

On decriminalizing cannabis possession crimes, Dr. Sharief remarked, "As a county commissioner we dealt with the rising costs of incarceration and the fact that we had and still have a large amount of individuals incarcerated for possession. I support decriminalizing the simple possession of marijuana to respect personal freedom, reform criminal justice by reducing disparities, promote public health through a non-punitive approach, save taxpayer money, refocus law enforcement priorities on violent crime, and establish responsible regulation."

"I supported medical marijuana and the legalization of recreational marijuana as a County commissioner in Broward. We drafted various resolutions to support medical marijuana during my time in elected office." (Candidate Survey Response)

Email: barbara@shariefforflorida.com

Web: https://shariefforflorida.com/

Phone: 954-292-9449