Wasserman Schultz has stated multiple times that she is against the legalization of marijuana, and has been inconsistent in her stance regarding medical marijuana in Florida. Historically, she has been quite anti-medical marijuana, but has recently loosened her position and started to move in favor of medical marijuana programs and legislation. She has been quoted likening marijuana use to the use of opioid painkillers.
Holds office U.S. House District 25
"While I have serious reservations regarding some of the specifics of this bill, I will vote yes on the MORE Act because the status quo, where marijuana laws continue to ravage communities of color, is untenable and must change immediately. For decades, the "War on Drugs' and racism that has long stained our criminal justice system has resulted in people of color being arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated for marijuana offenses at rates far exceeding white people. The destructive and inequitable policies that led to these disparities must end. However, I must make clear that my preferred legislative path would be decriminalizing marijuana and rescheduling it from Schedule I to Schedule III in order to allow us to better research the proven concerns around its safety and long-term health impacts. I cast my vote today in support of the provisions of the bill that will alleviate the injustice but remain opposed to the de-scheduling provisions and believe rescheduling and modifying regulations to allow more research is the more prudent approach. Given that the MORE Act will not become law, I will continue to pursue this more safe, prudent, and politically viable legislative path." 12/4/20
"You're one of a dwindling number of progressive politicians who oppose legalization of even the medical use of marijuana. Where does that come from? I don't oppose the use of medical marijuana. I just don't think we should legalize more mind-altering substances if we want to make it less likely that people travel down the path toward using drugs. We have had a resurgence of drug use instead of a decline. There is a huge heroin epidemic.
Heroin addiction often starts with prescribed painkillers. Pill mills were a problem in Florida, but the state didn't make prescribing opiates illegal. There is a difference between opiates and marijuana."
http://theslot.jezebel.com/debbie-wasserman-schultzs-opinions-about-weed-are-baffl-1751420822
1/06/2016
"She approves of its medical use but opposes legalization - as a matter of personal principles, she told The New York Times. Schultz says that she has no problem being a political outlier on the issue because her opinion was formed based on "personal experience both as a mom and as someone who grew up really bothered by the drug culture that surrounded my childhood - not mine personally. I grew up in suburbia."
http://www.attn.com/stories/5065/dnc-chair-debbie-wasserman-schultz-marijuana-and-alcohol
01/08/16
2021: The Medical Marijuana Research Act, HR 5657
2021: The MORE Act, HR 3617
2021: The SAFE Banking Act, HR 1996
2019: The SAFE Banking Act, HR 1595
2019: Blumenauer/McClintock/Norton Amendment to Protect Legalization
2016: Veterans Equal Access Amendment
2015: Rohrabacher/Farr Amendment to Protect Medical
Email: AskDebbie@DWSforCongress.com
Web: https://debbiewassermanschultz.com/
Phone: 202-225-7931
270 Cannon Office Building
Washington, DC 20515