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Former High Times Publisher Will Run Against Cuomo As Republican
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 10, 2012
Modified Oct 10, 2012
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By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 10, 2012
Modified Oct 10, 2012
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A former publisher of High Times magazine who spent eight years in prison for trafficking hash and marijuana in the '80s is gunning for Governor Cuomo. In a blog post admirably headlined "Pot-ential 2014 challenger not high on Cuomo," LoHud.com reports that marijuana reform advocate Richard Stratton filed paperwork with the state Board of Elections yesterday to challenge Cuomo. To be blunt, this guy isn't one of Cuomo's best buds.
"While I realize that I’m not exactly a household name with many New Yorkers, and my resume is by no means typical of our state’s previous Governors, I’m confident that my message will resonate with New Yorkers across the political spectrum who care about our state’s future and are looking for out-of-the-box solutions for the various problems facing New Yorkers," said Stratton, who announced that he would seek office on the Republican line. He also promised voters that when he's Governor, the war on drugs will be over:
We simply can’t afford to continue to spend millions to incarcerate the 13,000 non-violent drug offenders that are currently jailed in this state. I am committed to being the voice for New Yorkers who are interested in drug reform, marijuana law reform and, most importantly, those who are sick of paying for the incompetence and corruption of New York State politicos.
I’m fed up with paying for the pensions of State Senators who get sent to jail for corruption, and I am appalled at having to pay to imprison someone who was carrying marijuana. This madness needs to end. When I’m Governor of New York, we will bring the insanity of our present war on our own people to an end.
Wow, what a reasonable argument! Stratton doesn't stand a chance.
Tagged
andrew cuomo
drugs are bad don't do drugs
high times
marijuana
Politics
richard stratton
war on drugs
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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