Newsmax Lists Top 10 Marijuana Reforming Politicians

   

Newsmax.com, a conservative website seems to have adopted a libertarian stance in its cannabis coverage. Columnist Jason Gray lists off his list of the top 10 marijuana-law reform politicians. I’ll have to put together my own list at some point, but I have to take pride in the fact that two of the politicians hail from my home state of Oregon. Here are two Oregon officials I am happy to support and cast my ballots for, along with one of the major 2016 presidential contenders from“Legalize Pot Lawmakers: 10 Politicians Credited With Leading Fight to Make Marijuana Legal”:

1. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon)

The Oregon representative introduced the Marijuana Tax Revenue Act, which would create a federal excise tax for recreational marijuana.

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9. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky)

Paul introduced the Senate version of the DOJ amendment to shield marijuana states. He also took fellow GOP presidential hopeful Jeb Bush to task for opposing legalization in Florida while admitting he used pot in college.

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10. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon)

Markley said in 2014 that he voted in favor of Oregon’s state-wide ballot initiative to legalize marijuana.

Earl Blumenaur, a longtime cannabis law reformer, is a personal hero of mine and I could not be more proud to cast a vote for a member of Congress. Senator Jeff Merkley provided the Measure 91 campaign a great boost when he stated that he would cast a “YES” vote in 2014. Senator Rand Paul is the most likely GOP candidate that would help move cannabis law towards the end of prohibition. It would be great if another member of this list (#5 Elizabeth Warren) would hope in and vie for the Democratic nomination, in my humble opinion. Click on over to Newsmax for the full list. I look forward to more and more elected officials fighting for a spot on such top 10 lists.

Anthony, a longtime cannabis law reform advocate, was Chief Petitioner and co-author of Measure 91, Oregon's cannabis legalization effort. He served as director of both the New Approach Oregon and Vote Yes on 91 PACs, the political action committees responsible for the state's legalization campaign. As director of New Approach Oregon, Anthony continues to work towards effectively implementing the cannabis legalization system while protecting small business owners and the rights of patients. He sits on the Oregon Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee and fights for sensible rules at the legislature as well as city councils and county commissions across the state. Anthony helps cannabis business comply with Oregon's laws and advises advocates across the country. He also serves as content director of both the International Cannabis Business Conference and the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference, helping share the vision of moving the cannabis industry forward in a way that maintains the focus on keeping people out of prison and protecting patients. He was a member of the Oregon Health Authority Rules Advisory Committee, assisting the drafting of the administrative rules governing Oregon’s state-licensed medical marijuana facilities. He first co-authored and helped pass successful marijuana law reform measures while a law student at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He passed the Oregon Bar in 2005 and practiced criminal defense for two years before transitioning to working full-time in the political advocacy realm. His blogs on Marijuana Politics are personal in nature and don't speak for or reflect the opinions of any group or organization.