Mitch McConnell To Constituent: Marijuana Leads To Death

WASHINGTON -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told a constituent in favor of legalizing marijuana that he doesn't support the idea because drugs like pot lead to death.

In a Feb. 14 letter to his constituent, McConnell said he has "serious concerns" about legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes, a topic that the constituent had written to him about. He pointed out that the main ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, is already available in pill form for the treatment of certain illnesses.

He is also "troubled" by the fact that many legalization proposals would make marijuana available to the public "without following the scientific processes" of the Food and Drug Administration, McConnell said.

McConnell then cites a medical marijuana bill introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and raises concerns about what could happen if it became law -- death.

"Because of the harm that substances like marijuana and other narcotics pose to our society, I have concerns about this legislation. The detrimental effects of drugs have been well documented: short-term memory loss, loss of core motor functions, heightened risk of lung disease, and even death," McConnell wrote.

McConnell spokesman Don Stewart said McConnell was just making the case that drugs in general have detrimental effects.

"Everyone from the Obama administration on down agrees that drug use has had serious consequences, including deaths. The letter makes that clear," Stewart said.

The constituent who corresponded with McConnell posted the letter on a counterculture blog, grasscity.com, and wrote a response to what McConnell had to say:

"Hi Blades, got a letter back from Mitch McConnell about legalizing marijuana. I'll let the letter speak for itself. WOWZA."

Comments

[TRICHOMETRIST]

10:45 AM on 06/24/2012

" He pointed out that the main ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, is already available in pill form for the treatment of certain illnesses."

Pill form ? for patients with AIDS who throw up everything. why cant politicians leave medical issues up to scientist or doctors? answer "votes
Marinol is a synthetic version of THC. THC is a god given naturally born compound , cannabinoids (sorry for my spelling ) cant be mimicked by obamasontos or a tets tube

SATIVEX is the closest I can find , otherwise throw a seed in your back yard and propsper!

[Patrix]

09:16 AM on 06/15/2012

Mitch is suppose to be taking SERIOUSLY !!! WHO HAS DIED FROM WEED ?

[hoosierhelen]

09:00 PM on 06/08/2012

Perhaps Kentucky's fine representative, Mitch, should do a little research on how many deaths have been caused by marijuana before he pronounces it to be deadly? Just a suggestion.

It is these little bitty details that reveal how very little our elected representatives understand about the population they have signed on to represent. They are so far distant from the common people and the world we live in that they have no clue how to represent us. YET...we continue to elect them because it is just like the commercials we are fed over TV everyday...we purchase what big money sells us and we elect representatives that big money sells us also. How can we blame McConnell for his ignorance? He was packaged and sold to the people of Kentucky, just like any other product (Kraft cheese comes to mind).

IF Americans can regain their ability to look for content and substance in their elected officials and be confident these representatives understand the real issues the 99% are dealing with, we have a chance at reclaiming the USA. IF we continue to place our votes on who has the biggest bucks and the most impressive commercials...we will continue to be servants to the 1% and we will continue to be bought and paid for.

[casey53]

07:36 PM on 05/11/2012

Mitch is an idiot, the next person who overdoses on pot will be the first one. Tobacco, nicotine, and alcohol are all legal and all far more addictive, dangerous and destructive.

[Ron Phillips]

07:19 PM on 03/27/2012

But he didn't say marijuana could kill you. He said narcotics could kill you.

Another wildly misleading headline on HuffPo, and most of the commenters don't even bother to read the article to find that out.

[Red Arthur Vanwinkle]

10:47 AM on 05/23/2012

He said "Because of the harm substances like marijuana and other narcotics pose to our society'" Clearly implying that marijuana was also a cause to issues that he stated. Which death as one of them. When the truth is marijuana is non toxic, and noone has ever died from direct use of marijuana. Get the facts straight Ron.

[hoosierhelen]

09:12 PM on 06/08/2012

You are mincing words, Ron. He obviously implied that marijuana could kill you. Why you should defend him is your issue. Nothing wildly misleading on HuffPo headline as I read it.

He simply is what he is....out of touch and uninformed on the topic he chose to speak. Kentucky could certainly use a representative who spoke on topics of which he has good knowledge upon.

Defend him if you must Ron. Please find a more solid ground and let us also know why you are so inclined to defend him.

[Tomc823]

12:31 PM on 03/27/2012

If Marijuana is so deadly then how am I, a 30+ yr smoker still alive??? Someone please tell me that???? The only thing that makes pot deadly are the ignorant law enforcement officers that shoot unarmed pot smokers...

[caliber44c]

09:05 PM on 03/20/2012

I have only this to say..... Washington D C has medical marijuana by unanymous vote !!
So they can have it but we can't ?? Mitch Mcconnell is a MORON, and NEEDS TO BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE FOR HIS OUTRIGHT STUPIDITY !! His views on marijuana is completely false, and is from the 50's... Yes they have SYNTHETIC THC, but it is useless as a pain killer and not as effective as a vicodin... But marijuana is a thousand times LESS LETHAL THAN THE LEGAL DRUGS I AM PRESCRIBED EVERY MONTH FOR PAIN !!! MORONS ALL !!

[CrnkyOldMan]

05:39 PM on 03/19/2012

Th GoP: Saving you from drugs, so you can die for war profits.
Thanks guys.

[wickedlilxtalena]

09:36 PM on 03/18/2012

McConnell, show me the facts on marijuana leading to death.

Now show me the facts on the facts the other drugs, also including prescription leads to death.

[Tania Hinkle]

10:03 AM on 03/18/2012

I think that the goverment should legalize pot and get rid of acholal cause's alot of problems with ur health. my mother died from this and i belive if she was able to use pot legaly. she would still be here.

[Tania Hinkle]

02:03 PM on 10/16/2012

thank you 

[nohopepope2187]

12:23 AM on 03/18/2012

Almost 80,000 people die from Alcohol-Attributable Deaths each year[1]. The only thing marijuana will kill is a bag of Doritos.

[1] http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm

[Tomc823]

12:37 PM on 03/27/2012

Right on!!! My dad chose alcohol & died from it at 26 (I was 7)... Here I am 45, been smoking for over 30 years & still here and (mostly) sane... LOL

[AlfredE69]

08:43 PM on 03/17/2012

Democrats and Republicans have much to agree on:

Endless wars
Endless war on drugs
Endless war on our Liberty
Commie style bail out of Financial Firms

[Brian K Willis]

10:17 AM on 03/17/2012

The number one cause of death is living

[knainak]

09:48 AM on 03/17/2012

Oh my god. I just fired up my pipe. Time to die. Again.

[Jay from Ottawa]

05:09 PM on 03/16/2012

"Marijuana Leads To Death"

I simply can't believe that people who says things like this somehow manage to retain their credibility.

[HotelDrama]

01:07 PM on 03/17/2012

Let alone get re-elected time and time again.

[Trommy Themulus]

06:26 PM on 03/18/2012

I doubt any thinking person will ever vote for this guy again. What an incredibly ignorant statement and this guy is a leader for our country. Sad really.