A little over 20 years ago I met a man who was running for
governor or to be more precise he was running in the primary here in Kentucky
with hopes of representing the Democratic party in that year’s campaign for
governor. It wasn’t going to be easy, he was a long shot at best An issues
candidate and a controversial one at that. He was a personable man, you
couldn’t help but like him but most important of all he was honest. Like Willie
Nelson said “this man speaks the truth”, he did, speak the truth.
Gatewood Galbraith was making his first run for the
governor’s mansion, here in Kentucky, and I was happy to do what little I could
to help him, if not win the election, at least get the word out about Cannabis.
Gatewood never shied away from telling anyone within ear shot how he felt about
cannabis and the prohibition of it. Gatewood stood for honesty and even his
worst enemies had to admit he would walk up to their face and tell them the
truth, square in the eye; he was that kind of man.
Gatewood had other issues but of course he was the Marijuana
candidate to the media. He stood for teaching civics at an early age so that
children would learn how their government works and how they could be part of
it. He stood for less government interference in our lives along with being a
great environmentalist but of course they never focused on those issues. He
was, after all, the Marijuana candidate.
Back in 1990 things were a lot different. George Hebert
Walker Bush was President; we had “Just Say No”, the escalation in the war on
drugs and last but not least the Persian Gulf War had just started. Anyone who
admitted smoking, as Gatewood had, was not only considered irrelevant for their
cannabis smoking but in some crowds he was downright unpatriotic to even
suggest legalizing cannabis. It was a different world back then. All people knew
about cannabis was that they used to make rope out of it and people smoked it
to get high. After that campaign people had a whole new attitude about cannabis
and the conversation had turned. I know that I had learned so much that my
opinion changed forever.
I’m a big stickler for the truth and as I said before that
is what inspired me to come out and represent Gatewood. Although I took some
time off after the campaign, most campaigns are stressful but this one was more
so, I had to get my life back together I
always supported Gatewood. I followed his campaigns and voted for him when I
could. He always stayed true to his message and we lost a champion for the
truth when he passed away last January.
We had lost the one man here in Kentucky that has been able
to keep this truth alive. I was concerned because I had started Kentucky
Veterans for Medical Marijuana and with Gatewood gone who would we have to help
plead our cause? The VA had published a directive that they would recognize
cannabis in states where it was legal and they wouldn’t disqualify anyone for
taking it. Studies have shown cannabis to be an effective treatment for PTSD
but we here in Kentucky couldn’t participate so I started my group to lobby the
state for legalization of medical marijuana. I was delighted to hear that
Senator Perry Clark had introduced sb129 this past session of the legislature.
Even though it was unlikely the bill would pass, we at last had a champion and finally
a bill!
Although I live in Sen. Clark’s district, in fact not a
block away, I had never met him until this past April. I contacted his office
and assured him of my support. I rode over to his home shortly thereafter and
we talked for hours. I found him to be a very personable man much like
Gatewood. Fortunately for him he has a track record in both the house and
Senate of legislation other than cannabis legalization so the press won’t be
able to tag him in his election with just one issue. Senator Clark doesn’t hold
back on anything as I soon found out.
I worked with Senator Clark from then on with his bill
assembling a group of activists and patients whose lives have been changed or
could be changed for the better should Kentucky legalize medicinal cannabis. We
gathered all these folks for Senator Clark’s new conference. We showed a
documentary to start with involving a young lady whose life was saved by
juicing with cannabis and a young Childs cancer tumors disappeared.
We then had folks stand up one by one and tell their story.
The young lady, law student, who told of childhood abuse and how just recently
she was given the date rape drug and taken advantage of by two men. How she was
advised by her doctors to try cannabis for her PTSD and how she had managed to
obtain some and it actually worked. Then the MS patient testified to getting
relief from cannabis for their symptoms. The young man who at four years old
watched as his father was shot not four feet from him all because he was
growing cannabis on his land. The man, a decorated Vietnam Veteran, was using
cannabis for his PTSD.
But then a man, a stranger in the room stood up and asked
Senator Clark about his cannabis use. Senator Clark was honest and said he had
used cannabis but was not” a chronic user”. He also alluded to his time in
service and how things were more accessible then. Out of all the good things
that came out of that press conference this, that Sen. Clark had smoked
cannabis in his life, something it had been suggested he try for his back
problems. Not only that but it’s been suggested this somehow makes him
unqualified to serve his constituents. I’m here to tell you it doesn’t.
I am here to tell you that as a resident of this district,
as is Senator Clark, I don’t believe his constituents, many of whom hard
working veterans who have shared Senator Clarks experiences, will let him down.
In fact I believe his constituents know him well enough to know that any
misgivings concerning his leadership ability, due to his having smoked something
the majority of them have done and know the truth about, will assure him a
victory.
This isn’t a left right issue this is a human issue. People
need to know the truth and a free and open minded debate is all we want. People
need to educate themselves, talk to your neighbors, and know what you are
saying before you worry about whether someone has smoked cannabis or not. This
is 2012 not 1991 and we have moved beyond that. Can we start talking about
changing and saving lives?
Ron Moore
Kentucky Veterans for Medical Marijuana
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