Beto O'Rourke renews call for legalizing marijuana as presidential speculation continues

Beto O'Rourke, who many expect to run for the Democratic nomination for president, Monday renewed his long-established call for legalizing marijuana nationally in an email to supporters.

"We should end the federal prohibition on marijuana and expunge the records of those who were locked away for possessing it, ensuring that they can get work, finish their education, contribute to the greatness of this country," he wrote in the email sent to supporters of his failed bid to defeat Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in last November's election.

"First, we need to end the failed war on drugs that has long been a war on people, waged on some people over other people. Who is going to be the last man — more likely than not a black man — to languish behind bars for possessing or using marijuana when it is legal in some form in more than half of the states in this country?" O'Rourke asked in the email.

The email comes less than a week after O'Rourke told journalists that he plans to announce soon whether he's running for the Democratic nomination for president.

Read more: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2019/03/04/beto-o-rourke-renews-call-for-legalizing-marijuana-email-supporters-presidential-speculation/3062196002/