Latest Fact-Checks In Marijuana

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Patrick Kennedy
Patrick Kennedy
stated on January 8, 2013 news story
"Eighty percent of those who have applied for licenses have no cancer, no Parkinson's disease or glaucoma. They have nothing you would associate [with] the use of medical marijuana."
Half-True
By Michael McKinney • February 3, 2013
Protect Families First
Protect Families First
stated on January 10, 2013 a news release
"The average age of first marijuana use is 12."
False
By Michael McKinney • January 20, 2013
Joseph
Joseph "Joe" Deshotel
stated on November 13, 2012 a press release.
"There is no evidence that poor people abuse drugs more frequently than any other socio-economic group."  
False
By W. Gardner Selby • November 26, 2012
John G. Edwards
John G. Edwards
stated on June 5, 2012 a debate on the House floor
Decriminalizing marijuana "will save the state anywhere from $4 (million) to $11 million dollars."
False
By Tom Mooney • June 17, 2012
Nathan Deal
Nathan Deal
stated on March 27, 2012 a press release
"As the usage [of synthetic marijuana] has dramatically increased, instances of violence, bodily harm and even death have risen with it."
Mostly True
By Willoughby Mariano • April 9, 2012
Silvestre Reyes
Silvestre Reyes
stated on February 26, 2012 a video advertisement.
Says opponent Beto O’Rourke "wants to legalize drugs."
Half-True
By W. Gardner Selby • March 7, 2012
Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson
stated on February 25, 2012 a forum
"Fifty percent of the graduating class of the year 2012 will have smoked marijuana or have done illegal drugs."
Mostly True
By Eric Stirgus • March 7, 2012
Suzanne Bonamici
Suzanne Bonamici
stated on January 10, 2012 a debate
Federal law prohibits the growing of industrial hemp in the United States.
True
By Janie Har • January 14, 2012
Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson
stated on September 19, 2011 an interview with the editorial board of the 'Telegraph.'
Says the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world with 2.3 million inmates, and the majority of Americans are imprisoned because they sold small amounts of drugs.
Half-True
By Maryalice Gill • September 22, 2011
Doreen Costa
Doreen Costa
stated on August 10, 2011 a radio interview
"The studies have shown us that [drug testing for welfare recipients] will be saving us money"
False
By C. Eugene Emery Jr. • August 26, 2011
Nicholas Scutari
Nicholas Scutari
stated on July 27, 2011 in a NJToday interview
"Certainly we're going to be the most restrictive state in the land … in terms of who can get medical marijuana, how it will be prescribed and how it will be achieved in terms of moving it into the marketplace."
True
By Erin O'Neill • August 14, 2011
Rick Scott
Rick Scott
stated on June 5, 2011 an interview on CNN
"Studies show that people that are on welfare are higher users of drugs than people not on welfare."
Half-True
By Aaron Sharockman • June 9, 2011
Ian Lang
Ian Lang
stated on May 18, 2011 a state Senate committee hearing
"Rhode Island continues to have the highest rates of substance abuse in the country."
True
By Richard Salit • June 9, 2011
Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano
stated on May 7, 2011 a speech before the Atlanta Press Club
"We have seized more currency, more drugs, more outbound arms in the past year than any year in our country’s history."
Half-True
By Willoughby Mariano • June 3, 2011
Robert Watson
Robert Watson
stated on April 26, 2011 a speech on the House floor
"I'm well aware that medical marijuana is a recognized, medical, viable treatment for this sort of [pancreas] pain condition."
False
By C. Eugene Emery Jr. • May 8, 2011
John Loughlin
John Loughlin
stated on July 9, 2010 a comment on The Helen Glover Show
Transporting drugs "is the price of admission" for people crossing the border illegally.
Pants on Fire!
By C. Eugene Emery Jr. • July 20, 2010
Jan Brewer
Jan Brewer
stated on June 25, 2010 a television interview
"The majority of the people that are coming to Arizona and trespassing are now becoming drug mules."
False
By Louis Jacobson • June 30, 2010
Gil Kerlikowske
Gil Kerlikowske
stated on March 31, 2010 an interview on C-SPAN's Washington Journal
"More people are driving under the influence of drugs than are driving under the influence of alcohol. A recent roadside survey showed that 16 percent of the people tested, tested positive for illicit or licit drugs. That's significantly higher than alcohol."
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • April 5, 2010
Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington
stated on July 26, 2009 This Week with George Stephanopoulos
Only 15 percent of drug users are African-American, yet 74 percent of all drug offenders sentenced to prison are black
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • July 28, 2009
Republican Party of Florida
Republican Party of Florida
stated on October 20, 2008 a campaign mailer
"Barack Obama has consistently voted against tougher penalties for criminals."  
False
October 27, 2008
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