Oct. 29, 1998 – Presidents Ford, Carter, and Bush Urge Voters to Reject Medical Marijuana

“Prior to the [Nov. 3, 1998] election, former Presidents Ford, Carter, and Bush released a statement urging voters to reject state medical marijuana initiatives because they circumvented the standard process by which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests medicines for safety and effectiveness. ‘Compassionate medicine,’ these leaders insisted, ‘must be based on science, not political appeals.’ Nevertheless, medical marijuana initiatives proceeded to pass in every state in which they appeared on the ballot.”