Cynthia Nixon wants to legalise marijuana to end 'racist war on drugs'
Amy Ashenden April 11, 2018
Cynthia Nixon has revealed she would legalise marijuana in New York if elected as Governor.
The former Sex and the City star says she favours legalisation as a means of 'ending the racist war on drugs'.
The actress argued that 80 percent of New Yorkers arrested for marijuana are black or Latino, despite the fact that whites and minorities use marijuana at roughly the same rates.
"There are a lot of good reasons for legalising marijuana, but for me, it comes down to this: we have to stop putting people of colour in jail for something that white people do with impunity" Nixon explained in a video post.
She continued: "The simple truth is, for white people, the use of marijuana has effectively been legal for a long time. Isn't it time we legalize it for everybody else?"
In New York, people who smoke marijuana indoors are not subject to arrests but people found in possession of the drug outdoors are.
"I believe it is time for New York to follow the lead of eight other states and DC, and legalise recreational marijuana," Nixon added.
"The consequences follow people for the rest of their lives, making it harder to get jobs or housing, and for non-citizens, putting them in the crosshairs for deportation.
"In addition to ending the racist war on drugs, regulating and taxing marijuana would generate hundreds of millions of dollars of tax revenue for our people, and create important agricultural opportunities for our state."
A lot of you have been asking about my position on marijuana. Here it is. pic.twitter.com/iEKLHgClFN
— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) April 11, 2018
Nixon is openly bisexual and recently launched an election campaign with the tagline 'unqualified lesbian' in response to a comment made by New York Democrats leader Christine Quinn.
Quinn, 51, was the first lesbian to become Speaker and is still a notable political force, serving as Vice Chair of the New York State Democratic Committee.
Speaking to the New York Post, Quinn said she was "surprised" by Nixon's announcement to run.
"Cynthia Nixon was opposed to having a qualified lesbian become mayor of New York City," said Quinn.
"Now she wants to be an unqualified lesbian to be the Governor of New York.
"You have to be qualified and have experience. She isn't qualified to be the governor."
Nixon has taken the quip in her stride and since begun selling badges with the slogan 'unqualified lesbian'.
If elected, she would make history by becoming the first out Governor of New York.
More: American Politics, bisexual, Cynthia Nixon, Cynthia Nixon gay, Cynthia Nixon US governor, drugs, Governor of New York, lesbian, marijuana, New York, racism, Unqualified Lesbian, US, weed