Bill Richardson: "So what if it's risky? It's the right thing to do,"

[bigtree]

U.S. presidential candidate Richardson says supporting medical marijuana 'is right thing to do'

The Associated Press
March 15, 2007

SANTA FE, New Mexico: Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson, poised to sign a bill making New Mexico the 12th state to legalize medical marijuana, said Thursday he realizes his action could become an issue in the presidential race.

"So what if it's risky? It's the right thing to do," said Richardson, one of the candidates in the crowded 2008 field. "What we're talking about is 160 people in deep pain. It only affects them."

Richardson has supported the proposal since he first ran in 2002. But he pushed especially hard for it this year, leaning on some Democrats to change their votes after the bill initially failed.

"Give him credit. It's not something you do because you're going to garner great political support for it. It is a bit controversial," said Thomas Mann, a political analyst at the Brookings Institution in Washington. By the same token, Mann says, it is not likely to hurt him in the Democratic contests.

"If he were to surprise us all and actually win the Democratic nomination, he's got an interesting mix of positions" that would not be undercut by his support of medical marijuana, Mann said.

Richardson said he has been asked about the issue by only a few voters while campaigning in Iowa. He said the White House had urged him not to sign the bill.

"I don't see it as being a big issue," he said. "This is for medicinal purpose, for ... people that are suffering. My God, let's be reasonable," he said . . .


report: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/15/america/NA-POL-US-Richardson-Medical-Marijuana.php

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Richardson just went up 3 points on the Jackpine Candidate Scale.

And lets face it--he's not hurting himself with Dems at large & may even pull a few Libertarian votes.

[frylock]

6. word up..

I'm really starting to like this guy.

[sandnsea]

12. He's pushing for some civil union legislation too

Read that earlier. He's WAY better than I thought he was. I hope he starts getting some attention, he deserves to be heard.

[bleever]

2. "By the same token"?

:)

I like Bill Richardson. He'd be a great president, IMO.

[BeyondGeography]

3. Kudos to Richardson

:thumbsup:

[MonkeyFunk]

4. It's an idea whose time has come

even my elderly mother supports it. When little old ladies are for it, the idea has become mainstream.

[ms liberty]

5. K&R n/t

[niallmac]

7. What's that word that describes this? 'Character' isn't that it?

Or maybe just plain 'guts.'

[babylonsister]

8. I'm warming up to him, bigtree...

you are a one-man band! :thumbsup:

[Morgana LaFey]

9. Breathtaking. THIS is the kind of leadership I can dig.

I have plenty of other problems with him, but I keenly appreciate and applaud his courage.

"The right thing to do." IMAGINE. Just imagine.


And what a comparison with the moral cowardice of a Hillary Clinton! Wow. Really puts her recent performance to shame.

[Blue_In_AK]

10. Richardson's my favorite so far...

I know he's got a few "issues," but I generally like the way he thinks.

[sandnsea]

11. Where is this controversial?

I think this is another case where if the majority of people voted, this would pass in a landslide. I think legalizing marijuana altogether would pass in a landslide. Who thinks we should lock people up for smoking pot??

[bigtree]

13. Controversial because he's signing it at the start of his presidential bid

You like it, I like it, but he'll take some hits. He says, "so what? People are suffering."

[skipos]

14. "He'll take some hits"

What are you implying? :)

I have never done an illegal drug in my life, and medical marijuana seems like a no brainer to me.

[mhatrw]

15. I thought this was about the GARDASIL mandate he's poised to sign. n/t

[TheConstantGardener]

16. HELL YES

This is what our politicians SHOULD be saying. Political calculating is what got us into Iraq when the Dems could've stopped it. We need BRAVERY!