▼ Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS)

On June 5, 2007, in Manchester, New Hampshire, former Maryland statehouse delegate Don Murphy asked Sen. Brownback if he would end the federal raids on cancer patients who use medical marijuana. Sen. Brownback responded, "I haven't supported the legalization of marijuana to be used. We have other pain relievers. I know a number of people who don't believe that they are as effective. I think it is, and I don't think it is something we should be legalizing marijuana for."

When pressed further and asked about arresting those who use marijuana as a last resort, Sen. Brownback answered, "I think that should continue to be the case. I do not think that we should legalize marijuana, and I don't think we need to legalize marijuana, as strong as some advocates believe to the contrary. I don't agree with that and I don't think we need to for pain or for pain medication. And we've got a number of pain resources coming on line, in the cancer field alone it's been quite impressive what they have done to try and relieve pain. I do not support decriminalization of marijuana for medical use or for any other use. I think we have other alternatives, and other alternatives in development."

During a campaign stop at Saint Anselm College on September 4, a GSMM staffer asked Sen. Brownback if he would end the waste of federal resources used to target sick and dying medical marijuana patients. Sen. Brownback responded, "I'm not going to pledge to you to do that. I recognize states, some states have taken a different position on the medical use of marijuana, primarily as a pallative, maybe some other reasons, but primarily on pain reduction. I think there are other techniques that can be used, and I'm concerned about us being able to stand and enforce drug laws in this country. Some people, maybe some don't agree with this, but see and use, and see marijuana as a path into other drug uses; and it has been in places. I think these are things we need to stand for on a federal basis, so I'm not going to pledge to you not to use DEA agents to enforce federal marijuana laws."

With a piece of his campaign literature in hand, the GSMM staffer read the bold, bullet-pointed text on the top of his brochure, which touted Sen. Brownback as supportive of states' rights, and responded: "Thank you sir, but how does that line up with 'champion of less government' and 'advocate of more freedom?' It isn't very consistent, sir."

Sen. Brownback responded, "I think it's very consistant on standing for a moral order ... We have a different view of marijuana."

On September 5, while in the spin room after the Republican debate at the University of New Hampshire, a GSMM staffer asked Sen. Brownback about his statements regarding cancer research and experimental drugs, tying the issues back to medical marijuana access. The GSMM staffer asked, "So if cancer patients and their doctors in 12 states believe that medical marijuana ought to be available, will you as president raid and prosecute these individuals for that use?" Sen. Brownback replied, "Well, I'm talking about if you've got a death sentence and something is going to cure you. Those are palliative care cases on the medical marijuana and I think you do need to stand by your drug laws in this country. And we can have other palliative treatments for pain, unless you're getting your medical marijuana." The staffer pressed further, "But if helps suppress nausea and stimulates appetite for cancer patients, you still think it shouldn't be available?" Sen. Brownback responded, "I still think it shouldn't be available."

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) on 9/4/07

Sen. Brownback withdrew from the Republican primary on October 19, 2007.