By Monterey Bud

 

Congressman Earl Blumenauer addressed Sean Spicer’s assertion that the Trump administration may cultivate “greater enforcement” of adult-use of marijuana.

After White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer finished pandering to the willfully ignorant during yesterday’s press conference, and creating more “alternative facts” about the relationship between adult use marijuana and opioid abuse, Congressman Earl Blumenauer of the bipartisan Congressional Cannabis Caucus cultivated the following statement in response:

“I am deeply disappointed by Sean Spicer’s statement that he expects states to see ‘greater enforcement’ and crackdown on adult use of marijuana. The national prohibition of cannabis has been a failure, and millions of voters across the country have demanded a more sensible approach. I’m looking forward to working with the leadership of our newly formed cannabis caucus to ensure that Oregonian’s wishes are protected and that we end the failed prohibition on marijuana.”

Undeterred by fact-based evidence, Trump’s press secretary appeared to link the national surge in opioid addiction with the one substance that has been shown to reduce opioid abuse – marijuana. Drawing gasps of disapproval from around the country, Spicer’s ill-conceived comments also drew condemnation from The National Cannabis Industry Association.

“It would be a mistake for the Department of Justice to overthrow the will of the voters and state governments who have created carefully regulated adult-use marijuana programs. It would represent a rejection of the values of economic growth, limited government, and respect for federalism that Republicans claim to embrace.”

Not alone in their disdain for yesterday’s announcement by press secretary Spicer, the bipartisan Congressional Cannabis Caucus also released the following statement via email.

“Today’s statement by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer regarding marijuana policy reaffirms the need for the Congressional Cannabis Caucus. Last November, eight more states passed measures to increase access to state-legal cannabis, and today more than 300 million Americans live in states with access to adult-use marijuana or some form medical cannabis.  Among them are four additional states that have fully legalized the adult-use of marijuana. We hope today’s comments do not reflect the views of the President and his administration.  As co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, we stand ready to educate this administration on the need for more sensible marijuana policies and share the many experiences states have had with the legalization of cannabis. Together, we will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to reform our failed marijuana policies and provide a voice for Americans who have overwhelmingly voted for a more sensible drug policy.”

Despite Sean Spicer erroneously associating adult-use marijuana states with increased opioid abuse (read: fake news), a 2015 study published by Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) noted a dramatic decline in opioid-related deaths for those states that have embraced medical marijuana.

Though medical and recreational states differ greatly on who can access the beneficial herb, few would dispute that a few puffs a day keeps the addictive pills away.