Giuliani, Romney, McCain Offered $10,000 to Prove Their Statements on Medical Marijuana (VIDEO)

Pinocchio Billboard Accompanies Press Conference Challenge by Patients to Candidates: "Prove What You Said or Stop Lying"

(MANCHESTER, New Hampshire) - At a press conference in front of Rudy Giuliani's Manchester headquarters this morning with a massive mobile truck billboard in tow, a representative of the Marijuana Policy Project joined two New Hampshire patients to challenge presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney to back up their statements regarding medical marijuana.

They're asking the candidates to produce scientific evidence of their claims that medical marijuana doesn't work, offering the legal maximum $10,000 campaign contribution to any of the three who can prove that their statements are true.

"In response to questions from patients who have benefited from medical marijuana, these candidates have made claims that are flat-out false," said MPP executive director Rob Kampia.

"Since appeals to science, compassion and common sense haven't worked, we're talking to them in a language we know they understand -- campaign contributions. If Giuliani, Romney or McCain can back up their claims that medical marijuana isn't needed or is too dangerous, we'll give their campaign $10,000, but if they can't, they need to stop lying."

Any responses from the campaigns will be evaluated by an independent panel of medical experts. An image of the billboard along with full details of the challenge and relevant scientific data are posted at medicalmarijuanaworks.org.

"I'm sick of the lies," said Clayton Holton, who is disabled by muscular dystrophy and who was snubbed by Romney in video footage widely seen on CNN and YouTube.

"If our politicians are going to withhold my medical treatment from me, something that's considered torture to do to our enemies in battle, then for the sake of all sick Americans, they better be able to prove that it's necessary, with evidence and not just with words."

In responses to questions posed by New Hampshire voters at campaign events, all three leading Republicans have claimed that marijuana is either too dangerous for medical use or not needed because adequate substitutes exist -- claims that are contradicted by published scientific data. In letters being delivered today to each of the three candidates, Kampia cited their specific statements and challenged them to supply proof. In his letter to Giuliani, Kampia wrote:

"We find it notable that you dismiss marijuana as too dangerous for medical use, while your law firm represented Purdue Pharma -- the makers of the highly addictive and toxic opioid OxyContin -- given that the company paid $634.5 million in fines and penalties for misleading doctors and patients about the drug's abuse potential, and given that a growing body of evidence suggests that medical marijuana can reduce the use of such highly addictive opioid painkillers."

The billboard accompanied MPP's Stuart Cooper this afternoon as he delivers letters from Kampia to the McCain and Romney headquarters in Manchester. A visit to Romney's national headquarters in Boston is planned for Friday. Further events with the Pinocchio billboard in New Hampshire and other primary or caucus states are expected.

You already saw Mitt Romney's interest in medical marijuana. Clayton Holton has been making the rounds, and in this series of videos, he has contact with numerous politicians who will vie for the top U.S. office next year. Rudy Giuliani, John Edwards, Ron Paul, Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich,

First, Presidential Candidate Rudy Giuliani avoids the seriously ill resident, who he has never met, nor been asked a question by. Though Mayor Giuliani obviously recognized Clayton from his encounter with Romney, and shows his clear reluctance to answer any questions dealing with medical marijuana. He can answer questions about abortion, nuclear war, arresting immigrants, gun control, and genocide in Dafur, but he's afraid to say if he will arrest the sick who use medical marijuana.

In this clip with Clayton Holton, he speaks to Presidential Candidate John Edwards about whether or not he would continue federal raids against medical marijuana who are using it legally. For more information on Clayton by the way, visit GraniteStaters.com

This clip features Clayton Holton speaking with Presidential Candidate Ron Paul, who says it is outrageous that the federal government continues to view medical marijuana as a crime. This film is produced and shot by Stuart Cooper: www.youtube.com/livefreenh

In this video, Senator Hillary Clinton meets Clayton Holton. Clayton has Muscular Dystrophy and has used medical marijuana successfully to maintain enough weight for treatment, when no other appetite stimulants and steroids worked. He asks Clinton if she will reiterate her pledge to end the federal raids on medical marijuana patients. She goes a step further and pledges to "create the option for people who get relief from [medical marijuana] to have it available." Produced and shot by Stuart Cooper: www.youtube.com/livefreenh

This video shows Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich stating his clearly supportive views for medical marijuana. This was shot and produced by Stuart Cooper: www.youtube.com/livefreenh

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Mike Landis July 12, 2008 1:23 am (Pacific time)

Don't let politicians spin the 'alternatives exist' ploy. There are over two dozen drugs routinely used by psychiatrists to treat depression. Everybody's body chemistry is unique, so there's no such thing as too many alternatives. It's analogous to getting treated for severe allergies, some people can't tolerate the common treatments - more choice is always better. Any politician that engages the alternatives exist ploy doesn't know anything about medicine or pharmaceuticals, they're simply relying on personal prejudice to form their opinion.

Mick Lloyd December 9, 2007 5:14 pm (Pacific time)

Ron Paul has nothing to loose by saying outrageous things, his campaign is based on such nonsense, he has less than a 5% chance of winning the Republican nomination. Dennis Kucinich, believes he can end world poverty, in over six thousand years of civilization no group or individual has ever achieved that. His goals are pipe dreams, if you think he will support medical marijuana you are probably hitting the pipe too hard yourself. Hillary, is just plain laughable, if you even could trust one thing the woman says you might have a point, unfortunately we know that her record shows she is an habitual lier and will say or do anything to become president. As an advocate for medical marijuana I would suggest a more legitimate means of bringing attention to the problem than having an ill informed cripple disrupting press conferences.

GreenFloyd December 6, 2007 4:29 pm (Pacific time)

As I always say, "Salem-News.com Rocks!" What a great report. Thank you and thanks to the MPP for all their outstanding efforts, as well.

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