The Speaker Speaks Out

Nancy Pelosi—the highest ranking Democrat in Congress—blasts the federal crackdown

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, President Barrack Obama rephrased his campaign promise, saying, “What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana. I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana—and the reason is because it’s against federal law.”

President Obama makes a valid point, but it doesn’t change the fact that thousands of people around the country who voted for him in 2008 did so out of the belief that their access to medical cannabis would remain safe and free from federal crackdowns. Many of those voters are now feeling betrayed and confused.

While it might be good news for some that Obama has told the Justice Department not to go after patients (although patients have been prosecuted in the last four years), it is little consolation for those who can’t get their medicine because every dispensary they go to has been shut down and shuttered.

But some consolation is now coming from another top-ranking federal leader. And she’s a biggie.

In a recent statement to the President, Democratic Party and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi defended patients and state laws while simultaneously criticizing the Obama administration and the Justice Department’s actions against the MMJ industry. Her statement reads, “Access to medicinal marijuana for individuals who are ill or enduring difficult and painful therapies is both a medical and a states’ rights issue. Sixteen states, including our home State of California, and the District of Columbia have adopted medicinal marijuana laws—most by a vote of the people.”

Pelosi served as Speaker of the House between 2007 and 2011, and she is the first woman (and Californian) to head a major party in Congress. The 8th congressional district she represents includes the bulk of the city and county of San Francisco.

In her recent statement, Pelosi also defends the beneficial properties of cannabis, declaring that proven “medicinal uses of marijuana include improving the quality of life for patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other severe medical conditions.”

Her message followed a recent official resolution by the pro-MMJ San Francisco Democratic Party, which criticized U.S. Attorneys for “wasting federal resources in using a series of threatening tactics to shut down regulated access to medical cannabis across the state of California. The dismantling of our legal, regulated and law-abiding medical cannabis facilities in San Francisco has resulted in depriving thousands of patients of medication, employees of jobs and the State of California much needed tax revenue.”

For medical cannabis patients who voted for Obama, Pelosi’s speaking out is arguably a positive. If the president feels pressure from his own party—especially considering Pelosi is the highest-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives—it could put pressure on Obama and his re-election campaign. Naturally, there are activists and advocates who area unhappy that Pelosi took so long to speak up, especially in light of other federal lawmakers who have opined on the MMJ debate. But, as the Medical Marijuana Business Daily put it, “Regardless, the MMJ industry will take support where it can get it, and Pelosi certainly is a good person to have on your side given that she has the President’s ear.”

Let’s Be Frank

While its significant that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is speaking out against federal raids and defending our rights, the House of Representatives is no stranger to pro-MMJ leaders. For years, Reps. Barney Frank—a Democrat from Massachusetts—and Ron Paul—a Republican from Texas—sought to fix federal law to allow states the option of legalizing medical marijuana. Frank, who announced he would retire next year, has also pushed for an industrial hemp farming act and is considered one of NORML’s go-to legislators. Paul, who has been seeking the GOP nomination for this year’s presidential campaign, has publicly argued for legalization in debates.