Giuliani, Romney, McCain Offered $10,000 to Prove Statements on Medical Marijuana
December 6, 2007
Long Island Chat
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(West Babylon, N.Y.) At a press conference in front of Rudy Giuliani’s Manchester headquarters this morning with a massive mobile truck billboard in tow, a representative of the Marijuana Policy Project joined two New Hampshire patients to challenge presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney to back up their statements regarding medical marijuana with scientific evidence, offering the legal maximum $10,000 campaign contribution to any of the three who can prove that their statements are true.
“In response to questions from patients who have benefited from medical marijuana, these candidates have made claims that are flat-out false,” said MPP executive director Rob Kampia. “Since appeals to science, compassion and common sense haven’t worked, we’re talking to them in a language we know they understand — campaign contributions. If Giuliani, Romney or McCain can back up their claims that medical marijuana isn’t needed or is too dangerous, we’ll give their campaign $10,000, but if they can’t, they need to stop lying.”
Any responses from the campaigns will be evaluated by an independent panel of medical experts. An image of the billboard along with full details of the challenge and relevant scientific data are posted at www.medicalmarijuanaworks.org.
“I’m sick of the lies,” said Clayton Holton, who is disabled by muscular dystrophy and who was snubbed by Romney in video footage widely seen on CNN and YouTube. “If our politicians are going to withhold my medical treatment from me, something that’s considered torture to do to our enemies in battle, then for the sake of all sick Americans, they better be able to prove that it’s necessary, with evidence and not just with words.”
In responses to questions posed by New Hampshire voters at campaign events, all three leading Republicans have claimed that marijuana is either too dangerous for medical use or not needed because adequate substitutes exist — claims that are contradicted by published scientific data. In letters being delivered today to each of the three candidates, Kampia cited their specific statements and challenged them to supply proof. In his letter to Giuliani, Kampia wrote:
“We find it notable that you dismiss marijuana as too dangerous for medical use, while your law firm represented Purdue Pharma — the makers of the highly addictive and toxic opioid OxyContin — given that the company paid $634.5 million in fines and penalties for misleading doctors and patients about the drug’s abuse potential, and given that a growing body of evidence suggests that medical marijuana can reduce the use of such highly addictive opioid painkillers.”
The billboard will accompany MPP’s Stuart Cooper this afternoon as he delivers letters from Kampia to the McCain and Romney headquarters in Manchester. A visit to Romney’s national headquarters in Boston is planned for Friday. Further events with the Pinocchio billboard in New Hampshire and other primary or caucus states are expected.
With more than 23,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit http://MarijuanaPolicy.org.
Posted by Christopher Boyle · Filed Under Health
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16 Responses to “Giuliani, Romney, McCain Offered $10,000 to Prove Statements on Medical Marijuana”
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All the more reason to vote for Ron Paul.
- Posted by: Danny
http://www.pledgeforpaul.com
Don’t forget your PRIMARY responsibility
- Posted by: johnjohnp
More and more people parade and tag along major candidates. Rudy had NYFD, RP fans booked already.
- Posted by: michael
The other side of the truck can state Dr. Paul’s stance (http://www.ronpaul2008.com/articles/?tag=War%20On%20Drugs) and draw attention to what a sane policy encapsulating personal property rights, medical care decisions, and 10th Amendment-related State’s rights. I believe there’s an arm of the MPP that could legally endorse Dr. Paul……of course, McCain-Thompson-Feingold made any type of political speech tricky.
- Posted by: Brad
GW Pharma (UK) has several Dpt of Health Trials completed on the efficacy of medical marijuana. Areas are pain relief in spinal pt’s, and less successful, but >0.5 probability for hip pain. There’s some easy money to be made there….
- Posted by: george
Ron Paul 08!
- Posted by: Josh
I love how it leaves out that when Holton asked Ron Paul this question, Paul said that he would never prosecute a federal drug charge for any drug law, and that he thought the states should handle the issue.
Most cops would support that position.
- Posted by: Dale Fitz
If neither of them come up with adequate proof that Marijuana really is dangerous the health of those in need. MPP should consider donating this cash to Dr. Ron Paul.
RON PAUL 08!
- Posted by: Nico
Keep trying guys, I’m sure if you can win the battle in the states, then other countries like us here in Australia will probably follow suit.
- Posted by: Alex
O f course you guys have no hidden agenda..you really care about sick people and the need for medical ganja….you are just as dishonest as all of the candidates that you are attacking…f***ing potheads..get a life already!
- Posted by: Tony
Tony then everybody is just as dishonest and scumbagish as everybody else. But if these canidates can’t give any proof of there claims then why do innocent people with actual health problems gotta suffer? F***ing idiots…stop f***ing everybody else over.
- Posted by: Jonny
first of all, marijuana for medicinal use could help so many people stave addictions and cope with pain/depression/anxiety. and hell, if as a bonus to medicinal legislation i can broaden my creative horizons without fear of prosecution, i’d say that’s a good thing.
and hey, at least potheads are politically active. vote ——–
i feel, tony, like you’re probably the kinda guy who wants a wall built on the mexican border, and you can’t tell me there’s no hidden agenda there. Save our jobs? yeah right.
Do you know why marijuana is illegal? it’s not because of overwhelming scientific evidence, or economic reasons, or anything legitimate. it’s because of the perpetuation of racism, ignorance, and a wholly suppressive agenda. look it up. read a book. fag.
and would you please clarify why you have developed such an intense distaste for potheads? is it the violence and hatred that perpetuates stoner culture? or maybe it is the fact that we understand something you will never, in your stubborn, self-righteous fervor, ever know.
so why don’t you quit your job, and get a fucking life?
- Posted by: Tony's a fairy (jesse)
Hear, hear. Just because everybody else says something is good does not mean it is so - cigarettes, for example. Corporations suppressed the scientific facts on smoking for years. The converse is true as well. As the aptly named poster before me has stated, marijuana is not illegal as a result of safety protocols, evidence of any kind, or interest in the public good. A long-standing war against this drug was launched in the 50s by evil men who wanted to further their careers, suppress blacks and hispanics, and completely liquidate an herb that has its roots (PUN) in much of our nation’s history, up until the point a few bad men decided to start spreading lies about the effects of said drug. Don’t believe everything you hear, Tony. The truth is out there. You don’t have to smoke pot to support it. All you have to do is seek truth with a clear mind and an unbiased conscience.
When did rationality become passe?
- Posted by: Tony smokes poles
I have absolutely no problem helping people who are sick or dying, but why does medical marijuana have to be used only for that? Why not use it as a preventative medicine. Ever hear the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”?
LEGALIZE NATURE!
- Posted by: Someguy
I really like your website you have some great post I’m looking for a cheap washer machine repairman.
- Posted by: laundry yellow pages
Obviously you don’t give a crap about people in pain and medical marijuana, since you leave out BARACK OBAMA who’s not only against MM, but FLIPPED on the issue. But, hey, it’s not about people in pain to you, right? It’s just a front group for electing Democrats. Why don’t you let people who are really involved in the issue have a word and stop exploiting cancer victims and the terminally ill to score cheap political points? http://www.theweedblog.com/will-the-medical-marijuana-community-vote-republican/
- Posted by: Chico