Madam Governor?

Former high-end madam Kristin Davis is running for governor of New York. Davis, who spent four months in Rikers Island prison after a conviction for promoting prostitution, says her campaign was partially inspired by the injustice of her serving time while former Governor Eliot Spitzer (whom Davis claims was among her freakier clients) walked away without any charges filed against him after getting caught on a wiretap arranging a meeting with a prostitute. As governor, Davis says she would legalize not just prostitution, gambling and other “victimless crimes,” but gay marriage and recreational marijuana use as well. She recently shared her views on freeing the weed with us.

Why did you decide to include legalizing marijuana in your platform?
Marijuana legalization fits my basic campaign philosophy, which favors both economic and personal freedom. It’s also common sense. New York State is broke – we have a $9.1 billion immediate budget deficit, and billions more in long-term debt. Meanwhile, New York has millions of people who would gladly pay a reasonable tax on marijuana if the criminal aspects were removed and quality was ensured. Not to mention the thousands of jobs legalization would create, which we need desperately in this state.

How did you first become interested in this issue?
I myself am not a user of any drugs, and I drink very little, but I feel strongly about other people’s freedom to indulge. Frankly, I’m sick of the government telling individuals what they can and cannot do, particularly when the political class abuses the system, robs the state blind, and lacks any moral authority to tell New Yorkers how to behave properly.

Do you think marijuana is an aphrodisiac?

I imagine it depends on the individual. The few times I used marijuana growing up, I found it made me introverted and less social. It has the opposite effect on other people, and I’m sure for many of them it is an aphrodisiac. To each his own.  

Check out the latest episode of High on the Air for a full-length interview with gubernatorial candidate Kristin Davis.