Does Mitt Romney Worry About Americans Who Support Medical Marijuana?

PHOENIX, Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A video from a private fundraiser was recently made public revealing that Mitt Romney was not worried about 47% of the American public in the 2012 General Election.   However, what may not be well known is that the Republican candidate addressed the issue of medical marijuana in a town hall meeting and the result is downright frightening for supporters of patient liberty.  Even though a CBS News poll in late 2011 showed that 77% of Americans support the use of medical marijuana, Mitt Romney has said that he believes it is an "entryway into a drug culture for our young people" and that he will fight it "tooth and nail". 

Mitt Romney on Medical Marijuana (video)

At a time when the United States deficit is growing at a rapid rate and the Office of National Drug Control Policy is spending in excess of 25 billion dollars annually on combined supply reduction and demand reduction expenditures, it is a shame that the so-called conservative candidate is willing to not only allocate, but increase resources to continue fighting state rights.  As Mitt Romney has been consistent on this issue, The American Council for Patient Liberty calls on President Barack Obama to join the Republican vice presidential candidate, Congressman Paul Ryan, in pledging that he will leave the issue of medical marijuana to the states.

Paul Ryan on Medical Marijuana

According to the American Council for Patient Liberty, the medical marijuana industry is a bipartisan issue as it has helped swing states like Colorado survive the recession through job creation and tax revenues as nine million jobs were lost nationwide.  The Council will hold elected officials accountable to the cause of patient liberty by presenting them with a pledge.  It will state that elected officials will not reduce the number of American jobs by attacking patients, caregivers, and dispensing facilities in states that have enacted medical marijuana laws.  Despite a 2009 memo by the Department of Justice deprioritizing medical marijuana enforcement, the attacks against dispensing facilities are being carried out in the following ways:

• Property forfeiture notices by overzealous federal officials
• Denial of reasonable business expenses by the IRS
• Disallowing the use of state licenses as evidence in federal prosecutions
• Disruption of medical marijuana programs by state and local officials in Arizona

Medical marijuana patients throughout the national are also being denied their second amendment rights according to a memo by the ATF last September.   This means that sick Americans have to choose between their constitutional rights and access to the only medicine that alleviates pain and suffering.   

It is the Council's opinion that the upcoming election is a zero sum game for medical marijuana and Mitt Romney is the wrong choice.  The American Council for Patient Liberty will continue to champion a limited form of central government that provides more power to the states in matters of personal choice and freedom. 

Website: http://www.patientliberty.org

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SOURCE American Council for Patient Liberty