Treetops
Active member
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/12/worst-state-legislators-marijuana_n_3733552.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
t's been an eventful year for marijuana policy. Colorado and Washington legalized recreational use of the drug in November, the Partnership at Drugfree.org revealed that over half of Americans favor decriminalization, and last week CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta apologized for "misleading the public" about the dangers of pot.
Even so, pot still has its skeptics, and a new video from the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) singles out the lawmakers that the group has identified as the "Worst State Legislators of 2013."
The video counts down the MPP's top eight marijuana policy offenders, alongside some direct quotes that are questionable, to say the least.
Take, for instance, Rep. Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg), who called bongs and pipes "utensils of death;" Rep. Luke Malek (R-Coeur d'Alene) who called medical marijuana a "farcical predatory scheme;" and Rep. David Howard (R-Park City) -- whose home state of Montana has been battling a crippling meth epidemic -- who called marijuana a "poison" and "the most dangerous drug there is."
In a release about the video, MPP Director of Communications Mason Tvert called such claims "reefer madness."
"Unfortunately, there are still many elected officials in this country who cannot let go of their antiquated beliefs about marijuana," Tvert said. "These are just the most outrageous examples."
t's been an eventful year for marijuana policy. Colorado and Washington legalized recreational use of the drug in November, the Partnership at Drugfree.org revealed that over half of Americans favor decriminalization, and last week CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta apologized for "misleading the public" about the dangers of pot.
Even so, pot still has its skeptics, and a new video from the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) singles out the lawmakers that the group has identified as the "Worst State Legislators of 2013."
The video counts down the MPP's top eight marijuana policy offenders, alongside some direct quotes that are questionable, to say the least.
Take, for instance, Rep. Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg), who called bongs and pipes "utensils of death;" Rep. Luke Malek (R-Coeur d'Alene) who called medical marijuana a "farcical predatory scheme;" and Rep. David Howard (R-Park City) -- whose home state of Montana has been battling a crippling meth epidemic -- who called marijuana a "poison" and "the most dangerous drug there is."
In a release about the video, MPP Director of Communications Mason Tvert called such claims "reefer madness."
"Unfortunately, there are still many elected officials in this country who cannot let go of their antiquated beliefs about marijuana," Tvert said. "These are just the most outrageous examples."
