Former Speaker of the House John Boehner and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld will both be joining the Board of Advisors at one of the nation’s largest cannabis corporations.
“I’m joining the board of #AcreageHoldings because my thinking on cannabis has evolved,” Boehner announced on Twitter Wednesday. “I’m convinced de-scheduling the drug is needed so we can do research, help our veterans, and reverse the opioid epidemic ravaging our communities.”
I’m joining the board of #AcreageHoldings because my thinking on cannabis has evolved. I’m convinced de-scheduling the drug is needed so we can do research, help our veterans, and reverse the opioid epidemic ravaging our communities. @AcreageCannabis https://t.co/f5i9KcQD0W
— John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) April 11, 2018
“I decided to get involved because of the struggles of our country’s veterans and the opioid epidemic, after learning how descheduling the drug can potentially help with both crises,” Boehner said in a statement regarding his decision to join Acreage Holdings.
By changing marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II drug, it will be classified as less dangerous than others such as opioids.
“Descheduling will reduce the conflict between federal policy and state programs,” Boehner said. “This will permit research and testing from federally funded institutions and allow the VA to use it as a treatment option.”
Boehner and Weld released a joint statement as they join Acreage Holdings, expressing that while they come from different perspectives on the matter, they both believe it’s time for a shift in federal marijuana policy.
“Acreage has a mission to make cannabis available to any patient who can benefit from safe and reliable access. The addition of Speaker Boehner and Governor Weld to our Board will lead to even greater access for patients by changing the conversation overnight,” Acreage Founder and CEO Kevin Murphy said. “These men have shaped the political course of our country for decades and now they will help shape the course of this nascent but ascendant industry.”
Acreage Holdings is based in New York City and operates in 11 states were either “medical and/or adult use cannabis is legal.”
