Leahy Lays Down the Law

As reported in Leafly, Civilized, and a few other media outlets, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) took the microphone in the Senate Appropriations Committee today and let loose a blast of reason and rationality about the folly of using federal funds to limit the availability of medical cannabis in states where voters, legislators, doctors, and patients already enjoy its benefits.

Leahy was quoted as saying:

“29 states and the District of Columbia have decided it’s more humane to regulate medical marijuana than to criminalize it. Almost every state—46 right now, and counting—regulate the use of a marijuana derivative that is used to treat epilepsy and other rare medical conditions. I think just about every member on this committee represents a state with patients who would be protected under this amendment. The federal government can’t investigate everything. And shouldn’t. And I don’t want them spending money pursuing medical marijuana patients who are following state law, whether they’re an epileptic or whatever they might be.”

Perhaps Leahy was miffed that his Senate committee's overwhelming vote to allow military veterans living in legalized states to use cannabis to treat PTSD, chronic pain, and a host of other terrible conditions, was ignored by the House yesterday.

Or perhaps he was just pointing out the obvious.

Image source: CNN