YOUR COMMENTS

I'm Clayton Holden's Aunt,first to those who said my nephew was a jerk your wrong.Until you suffer from a disease like his,you can't understand the pain he's in.
In response to the following statement. My nephew doesn't work for any of the candidates.
He's pushing this issue because he wants Mitt to say something that would sound good in a sound byte in some other Republican campaign's commercial.
The Future President needs to legalize Mariuana for Medical use for those Patients that need it...it doesn't mean it opens the Gateway for drugs!
- Mary, Daleville,AL

It makes me feel sad that someone would not want to help that guy on the wheelchair. Marijuana helps him and Mitt Romney doesnt seem to care to help him out, even though marijuana is the only drug known that helps him out. If you dont represent good people or desire to help out people who have had unfornite things happen to them, you cant be president over the people
- Benjamin Aleck, coeur d' alene Idaho

If it had the DEATH PENALTY or LIFE IMPRISONMENT attached to illegal "dealing" of marijuana, I would say yes then to allowing marijuana to be legalized for "medical" use. Most research currently says the chemical form of marijuana that is already legal has the same effect as the "natural" form. Most research shows that marijuana is addictive and unhealthy in general. And there have been a few instances of "proven" trails of funding from illegal sources to organizations who do support the legalization of marijuana. What else is new?
- Daniel Dinnell, Sparks, Nevada

Yes Mike, but they all could tell he was not really listening to the guy... that's the point! He dismissed it immediately. Romney is not using science here... he is instead using the "drugs are bad" logic... which is out of place here... The guy asked him about medical marijuana... and specifically said he didn't want to legalize marijuana, but he wants the DEA to reschedule it to at least a schedule 2.... COCAINE IS SCHEDULE 2 (highest level of control that can still be prescribed)... Marijuana is SCHEDULE 1 which means it cannot be prescribed. We know for 100% fact that marijuana helps with nausea and vomiting, among other things.

Romney then went on to use the argument that marijuana is the gate way drug... WHO CARES? We aren't talking about legalizing it to be sold in a convenient store... we are talking about making it at least a schedule 2 so a healthcare provider can prescribe it to a patient. I don't see anyone buying cocaine or amphetamine in convenient stores... do you? Both of them are scheduler 2 prescription drugs.

Don't believe me? Look it up!

http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/scheduling.html

There is the DEA schedule page.

This is once again, further proof of politicians not doing their homework and not listening at all.
- Josh, Louisville

This is incredible. I cant believe this guy Clayton Holden and the media are giving Mitt such a hard time about this. He said he opposes legalizing medical marijuana, and that he isnt the one to do the arresting -- what more of an answer do you want? I saw the clip showing the question and Mitt did more than his share of putting up with this jerk.
- Mike, Kennewick, WA

This is silly. In the original meeting, he asked Mitt if he'd have him arrested for smoking medical marijuana and Mitt said he doesnt support medical marijuana. He's pushing this issue because he wants Mitt to say something that would sound good in a sound byte in some other Republican campaign's commercial. Mitt said his stance on medical pot, leave him alone.
- Brent Fisher, Bedford, NH

Mitt Romeny isn't the only candidate that doesn't support medicinal marijuana. And the synthetics and substitutes aren't as effecatious as the original plant material for many patients. Finding the active ingredients that help control the pain, or the nausea is not as cut and dried as the government or pharmaceutical companies would claim. Ergo, going back to the source is the best alternative.
Actually, the federal government is a patient's, and a doctor's, worst enemy when it comes to pain medication prescription. The DEA does NOT use evidence-based medicine in their decisions on what constitutes over-prescribing of opiates and narcotics for medicinal reasons, and will harrass and prosecute healthcare givers and patients for possession and trafficing. By the way, the DEA falls under the Executive branch of the federal government; the same branch that George W. Bush heads, and the same one that allows rendition, false arrest, coerced confessions, and torture.
- Michael Houst, Barrington, NH

Seems like Mitt is unbelievably bad at answering uncomfortable questions -- or at least seeming "seeming" like he's answering them. If John Edwards and Fred Thompson can give this guy an answer, Mitt should be able to, too. The fact that he gets so rattled is really embarrasing. Runs away from this guy in a wheel chair like he's a leper or something.
- Chris, Boston

Why is Mitt against medication for sick people? We give patients opiates, stimulants, depressants, mood elevators. All of this can be fatal in large doses. There is no fatal dose of marijuana, so why not let sick people have there medications. It's absurd that politicians with no medical training are dictating medicine to doctors.
- Jeff, Manchester

The identification of the Marijuana Policy Project as a "pro-marijuana group" is incorrect. We do not promote, advocate, or endorse use of any substance, including marijuana, we simply oppose criminal penalties for responsible adult use -- especially by seriously ill patients such as Clayton Holden. The moms who rallied against Prohibition in the 1920s weren't "pro-booze," they simply opposed a failed policy that put their children at risk. Same for us.

Bruce Mirken
Director of Communications
Marijuana Policy Project
www.mpp.org
- Bruce Mirken, San Francisco, CA