Romney confronted with medical marijuana issue

CNN ^ | 10/8/2007 | Alexander Mooney

[Daffynition]

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was confronted head-on Saturday over the issue of medical marijuana.

Following a campaign appearance in Dover, New Hampshire, a member of the audience, Clayton Holton, told Romney he has muscular dystrophy and said five of his doctors say he is "living proof medical marijuana works."

"I am completely against legalizing it for everyone, but there is medical purposes for it," Holton told Romney.

Romney pointed out that there is synthetic marijuana as well as other pain medications available.

"It makes me sick. I have tried it, and it makes me throw up," Holton said. "My question for you is will you arrest me or my doctors if I get medical marijuana."

"I am not in favor of medical marijuana being legal in the country," Romney said as he moved on to greet other people.

Holton continued, "Excuse me, will you please answer my question?"

[Daffynition]

Watch Romney tackle the medical marijuana issue with a voter in New Hampshire.

[KC_Conspirator]

So its news if a democrat plant sneaks into a Romney speech and ambushes him?

[Daffynition]

How do you know that man was a plant?

Mr. Romney had better take down the sign "Ask Mitt Anything" then. He really handled this poorly.

[KC_Conspirator]

I am guided by political history and expereince of the last 20 years by calling this guy a plant. Its almost always is.

[surely_you_jest]

Mr. Romney had better take down the sign "Ask Mitt Anything" then. He really handled this poorly.

Yep. A self-inflicted wound. If Mr Romney keeps shooting himself in the foot, he'll be recognizable as the guy with no toes.

[mtdew]

So, anytime some person asked a candidate a question that makes them a little uncomfortable he’s automatically a plant?

I got the feeling the guy has a serious medical issue. Doesn’t surprise me that he would ask a question that he’d have a strong vested interest in.

[Daffynition]

Apparently the guy is Clayton Holton, a volunteer representative of Granite Staters for Medical Marijuana. There has been and will be more of this type of confrontation. The candidates had better be prepared because Romney came across as heartless. And the press will use this to advantage. Romney and his team should know this going in to these types Q&As. Piss poor PR.

[tumblindice]

“I am not in favor of medical marijuana being legal in the country,” Romney said

And he added, I’m not really that keen on caffiene, or nicotine for that matter, tucking into a white bread turkey sandwich, with swiss and heavy mayo.

Or guns. Or life. Or the Constitution. Or . . . I can’t believe I was leaning towards this guy.

[Daffynition]

From the GSMM website: Medical Marijuana Voting Guide

It's a fair question to ask candidates, especially to see which side of the fence they fall on in terms of states rights.

[KC_Conspirator]

I don’t really dislike Romney, but I just can’t get past the fact he did nothing to stop the desecration/defiling of marraige in his home state. Heck, I am even getting divorced and it still buggers me.

[bamahead]

ping

[robertpaulsen]

"My question for you is will you arrest me or my doctors if I get medical marijuana." "

I will arrest you (not your doctors, unless they are supplying it to you). Why? It's against federal law.

As for your doctors saying that you are "living proof medical marijuana works", maybe I will arrest them after all ... for stupidity. No major medical organization recognizes smoked marijuana as medicine. Not the AMA. And not even the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

[robertpaulsen]

"especially to see which side of the fence they fall on in terms of states rights."

I'm all for states rights. But not if it violates existing federal law.

So how is asking them about medical marijuana a fair question when it comes to states rights?

[Daffynition]

Well and good. But Romney didn't say that ... it appears that he hot-footed it out of there. Bad PR move to run away from a question.

[Vigilanteman]

The answer I'd like to hear is:

"I'd make it a state issue. The federal government needs to concentrate on hard drugs, not penny ante crap like this."

[Daffynition]

I happen to subscribe to the thought that the WOD as a colossal failiure, so I would argue that it is up to the individual states to decide what is best for its citizens through the initiative process.

• The Institute of Medicine's 1999 report on medical marijuana stated, "The accumulated data indicate a potential therapeutic value for cannabinoid drugs, particularly for symptoms such as pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation."

Source: Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr., and John A Benson, Jr., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base," Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, Institute of Medicine (Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999).

[dawn53]

Romney himself has a “strong vested interest” in the subject...his wife has MS.

[robertpaulsen]

"I happen to subscribe to the thought that the WOD as a colossal failiure"

Meaning if we ended it, there'd be no change in drug use or the number of users. I disagree. I think drug use would at least double if not triple.

"so I would argue that it is up to the individual states to decide what is best for its citizens through the initiative process."

First, the initiative process is what one poster called, "mob rule". Only 10% of Californians voted for medical marijuana, mostly the voters in the San Francisco area. Yet their decision affected everyone.

Second, turning the drug decision over to the states wouldn't work as demonstrated by alcohol prior to Prohibition -- it was smuggled from the "wet" states to the "dry" states. Smuggling drugs would be even easier.

[Daffynition]

I think people with terminal afflictions should decide with their doctor what is best for treating their condition. That's as I see it [and please don't try to put words in my mouth, as you did above]. This is a simple patient/physician decision.

FWIW during Prohibition, you could get a doctor's prescription for alcohol. ;-D

[Nate505]

If he has a sign that says ‘Ask Mitt Anything,’ the guy being a plant or not becomes irrelevant.