By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Alabama gubernatorial candidate Jason Childs is promoting his proposal to legalize recreational marijuana in the state of Alabama.
“$880 million. That’s a conservative estimate of the total annual sales of marijuana the first year that it is legal in Alabama,” Childs said in a statement. “This is a harmless plant, not one death in over ten thousand years of use. Not only is it not harmful, it is actually good for you.”
“Many folks use cannabis for such ailments as inflammation, pain, depression, arthritis, nausea, anxiety, and many more,” Childs continued. “Recreationally people use marijuana as a healthy substitute for wine, beer, or liquor. It is a good substitute for libations because it carries with it none of the hangover side effects.”
“It should have never been made illegal in the first place,” Childs stated. “It is time to end this silly prohibition against a plant so many people are already using in Alabama. 88 million in tax revenues would be just what the doctor ordered to fix our state’s budget.”
Childs promised, “As your Governor I am going to lead the effort to legalize marijuana in Alabama, and it will benefit us all. Our state workers are going without cost of living raises, and our failure to expand Medicaid is costing lives. That is all about to change, but I need you to stand with me.”
“Six years ago I founded Center for Progress in Alabama, a progressive public policy research and advocacy organization. Our goal was simple, fight to protect the hard working folks of the state we all love. I have traveled to 48 states and I can tell you that there is not a better place to live, work, or do business than right here in Alabama. We are home to the hardest working and most good hearted people you can find, and they deserve better than what they have been getting from Montgomery,” Jason Childs said in a statement.
Republicans have won the 1986, 1990, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 governor’s races.
“Our friends on the right took control of our state for the first time in over a century just a few years back, and it has been a disaster” Childs said. “They ran for office on the platform that government doesn’t work, and with them in charge I am convinced that they are right.”
The Democratic primary field is unusually crowded. Former state Alabama Supreme Court Justice Sue Bell Cobb, former state Rep. James C. Fields, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox and homosexual equality activist Chris Countryman have also announced that they are running for governor.
The major party primaries are on June 5, 2018.
Gov. Kay Ivey is running for her own term as governor in 2018.
