Maggie Hassan has blood on her hands. You might not see it at first, but it’s there. Look closely, you’ll see it.
On July 23, 2013, New Hampshire became the 19th state to legalize medicinal usage of cannabis. The original version of the therapeutic cannabis bill would have allowed qualifying patients to grow their own medicine if certain criteria were met. However, Maggie threatened to veto the legislation if this provision wasn’t removed, despite the fact that she voted FOR a similar provision in 2009. This is a freedom enjoyed by therapeutic cannabis patients in Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and a dozen other states. Now, over one year later, qualifying patients are still not able to legally obtain the medicine they need. The process is so arduous that it may be another 18 months before therapeutic cannabis patients in the Granite State will be able to legally obtain their medicine from one of four alternative treatment centers.
Clayton Holton was one of the therapeutic cannabis patients who has been working for years to convince those in the NH government to allow him the freedom to obtain and use his medicine without threats of violence. Unfortunately, Clayton has become another victim of the drug war, and his blood is on Maggie’s hands!
Clayton suffered from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disorder characterized by degeneration of muscle tissue. In May of last year, when the therapeutic cannabis legislation was working it’s way through the NH Legislature, Clayton wrote “[The removal of the home grow provision] means patients will continue to suffer without legal access to marijuana. Frankly, I do not expect to live another two years, so for me, this may as well be a death sentence.”
Clayton passed away earlier this week because of the “death sentence” handed down to him by Maggie Hassan. Matt Simon, Political Director for the Marijuana Policy Project, sent out an alert on Wednesday, reading, “It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of Clayton Holton, the courageous young activist who had been asking New Hampshire to pass a medical marijuana law since 2007…
Clayton earned national recognition in 2007 when he confronted then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a campaign appearance. The resulting video was shared widely, and it resulted in countless viewers becoming educated about the issue.”
Simon added, “Sadly, Clayton never got to realize his dream of seeing New Hampshire patients receive protection from arrest. In 2013, after meeting with Clayton and other patients, Governor Hassan told the Senate she would veto the medical marijuana bill if it provided Clayton and other patients with the immediate legal protections and home cultivation provision they were asking for.”
Some may accuse me of politicizing Clayton’s death, to them I say nothing could be further from the truth. Maggie decided to take a position that she found politically expedient, and the result cost this man his life. Maggie made this a political issue when she told Clayton that he doesn’t have a right to grow his own medicine, I’m simply pointing out the blood on her hands.
