Common Sense For New Hampshire

I have to confess that usually I cringe when I hear the word “bipartisan” used to describe some congressional initiative.  More often than not it’s used as cover to increase the scope of government in some way, be it through tax increases, spending increases, debt increases or some combination of the three.

But there is a bipartisan effort being spearheaded by Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and Rand Paul that actually gets the federal government out of the way on an issue that is literally a matter of life and death for many thousands of very ill people.  It’s a proposed law that forces the federal government to respect state medical marijuana laws and not prosecute providers and users of medical marijuana in those states where it is legal.

The federal ban on medical marijuana has been one of the excuses Chris Christie has been using to defend his foot dragging on implementing New Jersey’s medical marijuana law.  It’s funny how he’s so concerned about going against federal law, even it it would mean saving people from suffering and death, but was so defiant about federal law when it came to his attempt to hook us all on internet and sports gambling.

One citizen of our town who might be greatly helped by this proposed legislation is Alex Bean, son of Tracy Bean and former councilman Jim Bean.

Most of us know about Alex’s struggle and all the pain he and his family have had to endure.  His mom Tracy has learned of the potential help that medical marijuana might be and has been cheering efforts, through her husband Jim’s Facebook page and her own blog, to get state and federal prohibitions on marijuana relaxed.

I strongly urge you to click above and read her story and read about what compelled her to try to get medical marijuana for Alex.  The video she provides a link to is a must watch (although I don’t know why they needed to take a swipe at Barbara Bush at the end of it.  To me, Chris Christie or Mary Pat Angelini would have been more appropriate targets)

Tracy might not know this but she’s getting support from unexpected quarters: Maggie Moran.

I had heard that Maggie had been re-tweeting some pro-legalization stories and decided to go check for myself.

I have been rather critical of Maggie on these pages, and she probably really hates me, but I do want to praise her and thank her for being on the right side on this critical issue and for making her thoughts on the subject public. Lord knows she has a lot more influence in this state than I do and I am glad to see that influence used to support the cause.

For those of you who remain unconvinced of the urgent need to reform medical marijuana laws I present a short video about Clayton Holton, a New Hampshire resident and victim of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

In February of 2013 Mr. Holton testified at a New Hampshire legislative hearing on medical marijuana.  His testimony was followed by that of Matt Simon of the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy.  Mr. Simon closed his remarks by saying: “If you want to have your war against drugs go ahead and have it.  But keep Clayton Holton off the battlefield.”

It breaks my heart to have to report that Clayton Holton is off the battlefield.  He died September 23, 2014 at the age of 28.