How cannabis prohibitionist Rep. Frank Wolf, was bought by lobbyist

Back on May 9th, congress sent a bill to stop the DEA from spending tax money on enforcing federal laws against states who have medical marijuana. The bill was debated heatedly, and was voted against by a majority in congress.

During the debating process, one particular congressman really stood out to me in particular. That was Republican Representative Frank Wolf, of Virgina's 10th District.




Representative Frank Wolf basically stuck to parroting all the talking points of cannabis prohibitionist for the past 70 years, interjecting miscellaneous straw man arguments along the way.  He questioned the boundaries of states rights, stating, "If a state said that sex trafficking is okay, would we honor that and say that we are not gonna protect? I would hope not. States in the past have done things that were not good for this country."  He also touched on the pill mill problems in Florida, stating "We talk about doctors, the number of doctors that were ripping off people with oxycontin - the number of doctors [that would be] devasting. You could go down to Broward County, in Florida, and go into some of these pain clinics -- There are buses coming down, and planes coming down, to buy it, and doctors are writing prescriptions. So we are going to hide behind it and just say doctors are?  The number of doctors that ruin young people on oxycontin. .. that whereby they died, they died! Instead they hide behind a "doctor says" [and] that that means it's okay .."

We might be able to agree that the pain management policies are being abused, but the fact remains that people with legitimate pain are roped into the mix and are being treated like criminals.  Many of the people who are traveling by buses and planes to Florida are going there because they are unable to get proper pain management alternatives in their home states, so they are forced to be scrutinized unfairly just to be able to receive treatment.

The comparison of states rights to use cannabis, and the problem with Florida's pill mills only exemplifies the need for states to have other alternatives for treatment.

I personally experienced a close friend go through quite an ordeal with pain management in Florida. She got into a car accident and sought a legal way to help cope with their pain. At first the doctors had trouble locating her injury and they did not want to prescribe pain killers, even though her pain was very real and excruciating. Eventually the doctors were able to pinpoint the problem and finally starting her on a precription of oxycodone.
One of the procedures utilized to locate her pain, in turn, elevated her pain and her prescription was increased.  She became fearful of building up a tolerance against the medication - or worse, she feared she may become addicted.  Her doctor placated her fears with a proverbial "pat on the head". Within several months, despite addressing these concerns with her doctor, she did end up addicted, and eventually had to find an alternative to the oxycodone.  After spending time in drug rehabilitation she is now on methadone - probably for the rest of her life.  To this day, her health has been seriously affected as a result of using the only legal way to find relief from her injuries.

Perhaps it's time we search for alternatives?  

Medication errors harming millions

As a modern nation we have the responsibility to provide access to the best treatment available. There needs to be more than just highly addictive and expensive pills to provide needed relief for pain. By not giving people the legal choice for an alternative to pain pills when something else is available is wrong.

17 states recognize the medical efficacy of cannabis and they do not suffer the same problems Florida does with it's addiction to pill mills. Why? They have an legal alternative. An alternative that is extremely less addictive, and with substantially less lethal side effects.

Unfortunately, our government put a red X over those 17 states and targeted attacks against the people who voted for the right to be able to use medicinal cannabis, spending billions of dollars, arresting, and seizing assets, of the people providing access to medicinal cannabis.

After watching this debate in congress, I started wondering whether Representative Frank Wolf was influenced by lobbyists, and started doing some in depth research into who has invested in his campaigns since he was elected. What I found honestly was not surprising.

Here is my evidence that Representative Frank Wolf is nothing more than a bought out talking head for cannabis prohibitionist.

5 special interest groups that help keep cannabis illegal

The 5 special interest groups that keep cannabis illegal are: Police Unions, Private Prisons Corporations, Alcohol and Beer Companies, Pharmaceutical Corporations, and Prison Guard Unions.

Representative Frank Wolf has received campaign contributions from at least 6 contributors on the list.

Representative Frank Wolf's full list of donors. 

Corporate Prisons:
 CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE   

Pharmaceutical:
 BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB CO. EMPLOYEE PAC 
 ELI LILLY AND COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
  NATIONAL COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION - PAC
 PFIZER INC. PAC

Drug Testing:
 QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

So you see, this is a prime example of how lobbyists have bought and paid for Representative Frank Wolf. The good news is, he is running for re-election this year.

Running against Representative Frank Wolf is Jeff Barnett. Unfortunately, I have been unable to determine if he is worth endorsing due to the fact I couldn't find any information on his stand regarding current drug policies.