Politicians created the problem by criminalizing marijuana, but now many politicians support marijuana policy reform because it polls better than they do. Panelists explore why politicians support regulating marijuana.

1. POLITICIANS’
PERSPECTIVES ON
MARIJUANA
LEGALIZATION

2. Politicians created the problem of
prohibition by vilifying and
criminalizing marijuana, and then
they ran from the “m” word like it
was a curse.

3. But today, many politicians support
reforming marijuana policy because
marijuana frequently polls better than
the politicians themselves. This panel
explores why current and former
political figures support regulating
marijuana.

4. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon)

6. Rep. Blumenauer has sponsored or co-
sponsored the following bills:
Veterans Equal Access Act
Small Business Tax Equity Act
Clean Slate for Marijuana Offenses Act
Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act
Marijuana Tax Revenue Act

7. State Rep. Diane Russell (D-Maine)

8. Rep. Diane Russell (D-Portland)
has sponsored multiple
marijuana legalization bills in the
Maine Legislature since 2011.
“I hope the Legislature does the right thing and
realizes that the chaos that is happening (with
multiple proposals) doesn’t need to be there. If
anything, I think the number of ways that
legalization has come forward is indicative of just
how ready Maine is to move forward on this.”
- Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland

9. Rep. Diane Russell urges Maine voters to support regulating
marijuana at a press conference in Portland on February 23, 2013.

10. Rep. Russell helps the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana in Maine deliver
signed petitions to the secretary of state in Augusta on February 1, 2016.

11. Congressman Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee)

12. "It is ludicrous, absurd, crazy to have marijuana at
same level as heroin. Ask the late Philip Seymour
Hoffman if you could. Nobody dies from marijuana.
People die from heroin."
- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-TN

13. Rep. Cohen has sponsored or co-sponsored
the following bills:
Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect
States (CARERS) Act
The Unmuzzle the Drug Czar Act of 2014
Fresh Start Acts of 2016, 2013, 2011, and 2010
Justice Integrity Act of 2014
National Commission on Federal Marijuana Policy Act of
2013

14. Congressman Steve Cohen rallies against outdated marijuana laws that
place marijuana on the same level as much more dangerous drugs like
heroin and methamphetamine on C-SPAN on February 4, 2014.

15. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)

16. “Too many patients, for too long, have suffered under
a regime that encourages doctors to prescribe opiates
rather than the cannabinoids they deem much safer
and more effective. It’s the federal government and
out-of-control Justice Department enforcers who have
acted as the real gateway drug. The good news is
that the House of Representatives just took away that
deadly connection.”
- Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-CA

17. Rep. Rohrabacher has sponsored or co-
sponsored the following bills:
Respect State Marijuana Laws Act
Rohrabacher-Farr Medical Cannabis Amendment
Hinchey-Rohrabacher Medical Marijuana Amendment

18. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher discusses the need to
support states’ rights regarding marijuana policy on
Bloomberg Politics’ All Due Respect on June 29, 2015.

19. Politicians created the problem by criminalizing
marijuana, but now many politicians support
marijuana policy reform because it polls better
than they do. Panelists will explore why politicians
support regulating marijuana.

20. Thank you!