Boehner to promote legalizing marijuana

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday he has had a change of heart about marijuana and will promote its nationwide legalization as a way to help veterans and the nation’s deadly opioid crisis.

The Ohio Republican, an avid cigarette smoker, has joined the advisory board of Acreage Holdings, a multistate cannabis company. The company also announced that former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld has joined its advisory board.

Boehner, 68, said his position “has evolved” from opposing to supporting legalization of marijuana.

He said he wants to see federally funded research done and to allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer marijuana as a possible treatment option for such conditions as chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder.