By Michael Julian, HempMedsPX (CA)

I am running for a National Cannabis Industry Association board position because I want to join the campaign to legalize marijuana nationally for two reasons: it is negligent of our legislators to prohibit cannabis from being available to any and all patients that a doctor feels could benefit from treatment with cannabis and, in the most direct terms I can express, I believe that if alcohol is legal than marijuana being illegal is excruciatingly illogical. Without reiterating all of the science that we currently know about cannabis, simply stated it treats illness less expensively and more effectively than many of the high-priced, big pharma drugs on the market today, and all evidence to date points to the conclusion that alcohol, a legal drug that can be purchased in any corner liquor store in America with both state and federal government enjoying the tax revenue, is more physically and psychologically damaging than marijuana. For one to be legal and not the other is hypocritical, illogical and ridiculous.

I am a clean-cut, successful, professional businessman who has responsibly used marijuana recreationally, survived the alleged gateway affects and mind-scrambling and de-motivating influence marijuana is suggested by prohibition advocates to have. I would like to face legislators eye to eye and counter those assertions by exhibiting myself as living proof that marijuana is not the evil weed many of those in my generation grew up being programmed to believe. It is not a matter of IF cannabis will be legal in all 50 states but WHEN. Many people have an aversion to change but change in the legalization of cannabis is eminent. The burden of WHEN is being carried by NCIA and will be successful due to its volunteers’ contributions and efforts. The majority of Americans agree that marijuana should at least be legal for medical use if not completely decriminalized. America is ready for legalization and luckily we have an organization like NCIA to push that agenda. I want to be part of that fight and that is why I am running for the NCIA board.

See the full Board of Directors Voter Guide here.