>Local Republicans
Listen to Medical Marijuana
The University of Cincinnati College Republicans lucked out.
The cancellation of a
speech by William Bennett -- former U.S.
Education Secretary, former national drug czar and ongoing radio talk-show
demagogue -- left the floor open for a more thoughtful presentation. Rob Ryan, regional director of Republicans
for Compassionate Access, addressed the group on the political impact of
marijuana, especially medical marijuana.
While some might be surprised to hear about Republicans organizing in
support of medical marijuana, Ryan held out the example of Bob Ehrlich's
successful race for governor of Maryland.
While in Congress, Ehrlich supported a bill to legalize medical
marijuana.
Ryan blasted Ohio
Democrats, “They are spineless” he said.
Ryan spoke of his experiences with Ohio Democrats on the issue of
medical marijuana.. He recalled an event when the Ohio Democratic Party
attempted to have him banned from the Columbus Renaissance Hotel when he raised
the issue of medical marijuana. After
an embarrassing standoff for the Democratic party, then Senator Mark Mallory
came to Ryan’s aid and was allowed back into the Democratic event. Ryan was
there on the behalf of the Ohio Patient Network, attempting to sway democratic
support for a medical marijuana bill in the Ohio Senate. Ryan warned the young
Republican group that Ohio representatives may someday find some backbone on
this issue and be aware that supporting Medical Marijuana does not hurt politically.
Ryan reviewed his
experiences as a member of the Republican Central Committee. Supporting medical
marijuana did not hurt Republican Bob Ehrlich in his successful race for
Governor of Maryland. As a congressman Ehrlich supported medical marijuana bills
in Washington DC. Ryan was an early
supporter of Ehrlich in his gubernatorial race against Kathleen Kennedy
Townsend Townsend, a democratic drug warrior, tangled with Ryan when she came
to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Ryan authored a medical marijuana resolution
while in the Maryland Republican Central Committee. Michael Steele was the
party chairman and supported Ryan's resolution for medical marijuana. Michael
Steele went to become Maryland's Lt. Governor.
Ryan demonstrated the
magnitude of the public support in several ways. He reviewed the political
results of recent elections where Medical Marijuana ballots initiatives
received far more votes than presidential candidates such as Clinton, Dole,
Gore, or Bush. Even in solid Republican
state like Montana, medical marijuana bill received far more votes than Bush.
He provided printed material from the Ohio Patient Network that contained
supporting polling and ballot data on medical marijuana.
Ryan was warmly
received by the group and was asked if he could help the young republicans
bring Michael Steele to come to Cincinnati.
Bennett could face a young Republican group that might now have a
different view than Bennett radical
views on the medical marijuana issue when he finally comes to Cincinnati.
Republican For
Compassionate Access