10 Famous Entrepreneurs Who Are Against The War On Drugs – Benzinga

This article by Alfonso Colasuonno was originally published onGoldleaf, and appears here with permission.

The days of cannabis reform being an issue advanced solely by countercultural types are long gone. Arapidly increasingnumber of people from all walks of lifeincluding from the exciting world of big businessare in favor of legalization or decriminalization.Read on forten quotes from entrepreneurs who support a sea change in our current cannabis policies:(In response to being asked if cannabis should be legalized)

Yes. And release prisoners who are incarcerated for pot.

Mark Cuban, Majority Owner of theDallas MavericksWho most benefits from keeping marijuana illegal? The greatest beneficiaries are the major criminal organizations in Mexico and elsewhere that earn billions of dollars annually from this illicit tradeand who would rapidly lose their competitive advantage if marijuana were a legal commodity.

George Soros, Founder of theOpen Society FoundationsOf course I know how to roll a joint.

Martha Stewart, Majority Shareholder ofMartha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Its not just the over $8 billion that we would be saving in law enforcement; its also the over $8 billion that we would be making by taxing marijuanaWe are filling our jails with nonviolent drug offenderspredominantly young, predominantly African-AmericanIts a great beyond left and right issue. It has support across the political spectrum and also the support of the majority of the American people.

Arianna Huffington, Founder ofThe Huffington PostI have friends who smoke potIts ridiculous to treat them as criminals.

David Koch, Former Vice President ofKoch Industries

Id like to see the government back a programme of research into the medical properties of cannabis and I do not object to its responsible use as a recreational relaxant.

Richard Branson, Founder ofTheVirgin Group

You either make it illegal, in which case you support a huge underground economy or you tax it within the limits people can afford.

Kevin OLeary, Founder ofOLeary Ventures

Selling weed literally went from a major felony to essential business (open during a pandemic) in much of America and yet many are still in prison. Doesn't make sense, isn't right."

Elon Musk, Founder/CEO ofSpaceXand CEO ofTesla, Inc.(In response to being asked if he had ever smoked cannabis)

"You bet I did and I enjoyed it."

Michael Bloomberg, Founder ofBloomberg L.P.

"US jails hold around 2.4 million peopleabout 25 percent of the worlds prisoners. Blacks and Hispanics are significantly more likely than whites to be arrested for possession and sale of marijuana and to receive a conviction and criminal record, even though the majority of marijuana users are non-Hispanic whites. Almost 40 percent of prisoners are black. More than half the people entering prison live below the poverty line. Our entire society pays the price for an unfair, broken system."

Mark Zuckerberg, Founder/CEO ofFacebookRead the original Article onGoldleaf.

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10 Famous Entrepreneurs Who Are Against The War On Drugs - Benzinga