▼ Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
In Short
Rep. Kucinich has been an outspoken opponent of the DEA’s raids on medical marijuana patients and has consistently voted in favor of legislation to end the DEA’s raids.
What Rep. Kucinich Has Done:
Rep. Kucinich has consistently voted in favor of the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment, which would bar the DEA from spending any money to raid or arrest medical marijuana patients and caregivers in the states that allow the medical use of marijuana. In 2007, Rep. Kucinich voted in favor of the amendment for the fifth year in a row.
What Rep. Kucinich Has Said:
On August 9, 2007, Rep. Kucinich appeared at a forum where cancer survivor and singer Melissa Etheridge asked him if he would end the federal raids on medical marijuana patients. Rep. Kucinich responded, "Well, four years ago when there were raids in California, I, as a member of Congress, objected to that. And of course, it's a matter between doctors and patients, and if doctors want to prescribe medical marijuana to relieve pain, compassion requires that the government support that. So, as president of the United States, I would make sure that our Justice Department was mindful that we should be taking a compassionate approach. I want to take it one step further. Because, this whole issue of drugs in our society is misplaced. Drugs have infected this society, but I think we need to look at it more as a medical and a health issue than as a criminal justice issue."
On August 15, at a meet-and-greet in Manchester, New Hampshire, GSMM asked Rep. Kucinich if he would end the federal raids on medical marijuana patients. Rep. Kucinich responded, "Yes. Compassion requires that doctors be able to prescribe whatever they need to make sure that patients get relief from pain. So, yes."
Represenative Dennis Kucinich on Medical Marijuana