Madison NORML

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a potential GOP candidate, once supported medical marijuana early in his career as a GOP congressman in the early 1980’s click here. Where he stands today is anyone’s guess, but as Speaker he proposed the death penalty for anyone bringing over 50 grams of any illegal drug into the U.S., including pot click here. Democratic Former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel’s website states he supports marijuana decriminalization and opposes jail for pot click here, but gives no specifics on medical cannabis. Former WI Governor/HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson has not spoken out publicly, even as the federal health agency he led was sued by medical marijuana patients for disseminating misinformation on medical cannabis click here.

Of the supporters, Kucinich and Paul have been original cosponsors of the States’ Rights to Medical Marijuana Act click here, and Paul has sponsored legislation legalizing industrial hemp click here. NM Gov. Richardson has supported medical marijuana efforts in the state legislature where a bill is pending now click here.

Kucinich even went so far as to issue the following statement after the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Raich case.

Statement of Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich On: The Supreme Court Ruling on Medical Marijuana

Washington, Jun 6, 2005 - Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement today on the Supreme Court ruling against the use of medical marijuana:

"Today's ruling will deny people with life threatening and debilitating illnesses potential relief from their suffering.

"Medical marijuana has recognized therapeutic value, and the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine has recommended the use of medical marijuana in some cases. Those seeking medically necessary relief from horrific illnesses should not be treated as criminals.

"We already know that those suffering from cancer and chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases have found relief from medical marijuana.

"The fight over medical marijuana is nothing but a sideshow in the so-called 'war on drugs', and will do nothing to address the real drug problems facing our nation.

"Today's Supreme Court ruling highlights the need for Congress to act on the issue of medical marijuana. The federal government can no longer ignore the medicinal importance and efficacy of medical marijuana. That is why I am an original co-sponsored of HR 2087, a bill to provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States and will support amendments during the upcoming Appropriations process which address this issue."

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While there is still much time before the 2008 elections, none of the top candidates has yet gone on record in support of medical cannabis as John Kerry did in 2004. Will the ultimate nominees be medical marijuana cowards or will they recognize that not only is this an issue with wide bipartisan support, but also that voters tend to support candidates who support medical marijuana. On the other hand, it speaks volumes when candidates like John Edwards, whose wife endured breast cancer, still remain cowards on this issue.

More to come as things progress…