RFK Jr. Vows To Legalize Marijuana And Support Drug Treatment Programs If Elected

In his bid for the presidency in 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is once again advocating for the federal legalization of cannabis, granting access to banking services for the industry, and allocating cannabis tax revenue to support drug treatment and rehabilitation centers, reported Marijuana Moment's Kyle Jaeger.

Asked about his stance on cannabis, during an appearance on C-SPAN's Washington Journal on Wednesday, the nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy said legalization of marijuana on the federal level would likely be a "part of my campaign [and] part of my presidency."

"What I've advocated is that we should legalize marijuana,” he said. “We should have a federal tax on the marijuana that is designated specifically for drug treatment and rehabilitation."

Kennedy says he envisions a tax-funded recovery program incorporating an agriculturally centered approach involving activities like gardening, forestry and animal care.

In terms of allowing access to banking for cannabis businesses, he said that marijuana's status quo resulted in a cash-intensive industry that potentially leads to more crime.

"I will make safe banking laws for people who are selling it, I will tax it federally and I will use that money to build these healing centers in rural areas—depressed rural areas—all over the country, where kids can grow organic food and eat well and heal themselves spiritually, physically and emotionally," Kennedy said earlier.

The son of Robert Kennedy, former U.S. Attorney General who was assassinated in 1968 five years after his brother, RFK Jr. has been in the presidential race since April, running as a Democrat.

He has previously discussed cannabis legalization on the campaign trail.

"I would decriminalize marijuana on a federal basis and allow the states to regulate it. I would impose a federal tax on it," Kennedy said in June. "The revenue generated from this tax would be used to build rehabilitation centers across the country and provide drug rehabilitation programs."

He openly disagreed with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) over cannabis policy change.

In one of his earlier tweets, Kennedy said DeSantis was wrong to oppose it.

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Photo: Benzinga edit of images by 2H Media on Unsplash and Wikimedia Commons