Boehner says he backs pot legalization
CINCINNATI — Former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday he has had a change of heart on marijuana and will promote its nationwide legalization as a way to help veterans and address the nation’s deadly opioid crisis.
The Ohio Republican has joined the advisory board of Acreage Holdings, a multistate cannabis company. The company also announced that former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld has joined the board.
Weld, a Republican as governor, ran in the 2016 presidential election on the Libertarian Party ticket that was headed by legal-pot advocate Gary Johnson.
Boehner said in a statement his position “has evolved” from opposing to supporting legalization of marijuana.
“I decided to get involved because of the struggles of our country’s veterans and the opioid epidemic,” said Boehner, now 68.
He said he wants to see federally funded research done and to allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer marijuana as a treatment option for various conditions.