Do ANY Candidates Understand Cannabis?

When Presidential candidates speak, I barely listen anymore, even if I like the person. I had such hopes for our current President. I voted for him twice, and I thought that he would find a way to reschedule cannabis, but he hasn’t as of yet. Hillary supports rescheduling cannabis so that it can be researched. Evidently she doesn’t realize that this has already happened in other countries and in kitchens across the United States. Bernie seems interested in moving forward on some form of decriminalization, but I never hear actual truth from any of the candidates.

Candidates need to understand that cannabis is safe. A profit motive made it illegal. In other words, money talked and people went to jail for possessing a plant that had been a source of healing for thousands of years. The discussion always begins after that point, when attitudes changed and so-called medical science went off the rails. But then cannabis is an herb, something physicians don’t necessarily learn much about unless they take the initiative to do so. And since it’s illegal federally, having anything to do with it risks their DEA license. I get it, I really do. But with states such as mine legalizing recreationally, our political conversation MUST change to include the truth about cannabis.

Candidates..Listen to Veterans

An article that the candidates should take notice of appeared in today’s Washington Post showing veterans dumping their medication bottles in front of the White House in protest over medical cannabis access. It’s Veteran’s Day. With all the funding problems the Veteran’s Administration has, supporting medicinal cannabis use by veterans would go along way to relieving the pain and suffering experienced by many. My husband’s VA doctor won’t put hemp hearts in his morning smoothie because he’s afraid he’ll test positive for cannabis and lose his job. He won’t, but evidently it’s not about the truth.

The candidates need to know that for every step forward, it feels like we take a dozen steps back when we have to explain the simplest of concepts to people. I’m a 58 year old rheumatoid arthritis sufferer, not a drug addict. Cannabis is the only thing that has given me relief. Remission simply wasn’t possible with the numerous drugs I was taking. It only happened with cannabis. I know countless people who have healed with cannabis. Some wouldn’t be alive now without it. As ill as I was, I’m in that category. So, this is an emotional issue for all of us.

Patients need the candidates to sit with them and listen. Really listen. Hear our stories. Hear how allopathic medicine didn’t work, or was financially out of reach. Speak to the children whose lives were turned around with cannabis, healing from cancer, severe epilepsy, Crohns, and any number of other illnesses. Speak to the adults who experienced the same. Hear us.

I’m lucky. Cannabis has been legal medically in Oregon since 1998, and full legalization happened here a year ago. There will be bumps along the way as the new law unfolds, but at least we’re finally on the board. For candidates to be relevant, they need to talk about cannabis. And don’t just talk around the subject, get the facts, and then educate the people. They have a perfect opportunity to begin the discussion our nation needs to have. A new direction could be set. A new conversation could be had. One that we will all benefit from. And a conversation like that just might get one of them elected.

Yes, cannabis users vote. We hold down jobs, support our families, attend and graduate from college. We’re not criminals. We’re voters. Please remember that.