Rangel's Dependence on Alcohol/Tobacco Money May Explain His Indifference to Marijuana Legalization

The Manhattan Libertarian Party today accused U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel of playing favorites with certain recreational drugs by accepting thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the alcohol and tobacco lobbies, while ignoring pleas from his own constituents for sensible reform of marijuana laws.

"Charlie Rangel's cozy relationship with the alcohol and tobacco lobbies sends a clear message that he supports the rights of citizens to use these drugs responsibly," said Jak Karako, chairman of the Manhattan Libertarian Party. "Why then won't he join his opponent Scott Jeffrey in calling for the same rights for responsible marijuana users?"

Jeffrey, a Libertarian, is challenging Rangel for his seat in New York's 15th Congressional District this November. As a long-time marijuana legalization activist, Jeffrey has made the rights of marijuana users the central tenet of his campaign. His campaign appears to have strong grass-roots support, as Jeffrey was able to collect over 3,500 signatures from voters in his district to get his name on the ballot.

As evidence of Rangel's partiality towards the purveyors of certain recreational drugs, Karako cites figures listed on the web site opensecrets.org, run by the Center for Responsive Politics. According to the web site, which uses Federal Election Commission data for the 1999-2000 election cycle, Rangel's campaign organization has received $25,090 in contributions from the tobacco industry and $23,700 from the beer, wine and liquor industries. Philip Morris alone has contributed $17,840 to the campaign, placing it second on the list of Rangel's top contributors. All of these figures are as of September 1, 2000.

"If Charlie Rangel does not support the rights of individuals to use drugs that harm no one but the consumer, then he should explain why and he should return these contributions immediately," demanded Karako. "However, if he does support such rights, then he should join Scott Jeffrey in demanding marijuana legalization and the immediate repealof our nation's other senseless drug laws."

Contact: Jim Lesczynski, Media Relations Director, 212-852-3931