Money Helped Inspire John Boehner's Massive Switch on Cannabis

For years, former Republican speaker of the House and Ohio congressman John Boehner said he was “unalterably opposed” to the legalization of cannabis. But now, Boehner has pulled a 180, saying that his “thinking on cannabis has evolved” and announcing he has joined the board of advisers of a large American cannabis company called Acreage Holdings (previously known as High Street Capital Partners). The company holds plant-touching licenses in 11 states in the U.S. Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld also joined Acreage’s board of advisers, and both he and Boehner have committed to joining Acreage’s board of directors once it is formed. Boehner tweeted the announcement.

I’m joining the board of #AcreageHoldings because my thinking on cannabis has evolved. I’m convinced de-scheduling the drug is needed so we can do research, help our veterans, and reverse the opioid epidemic ravaging our communities. @AcreageCannabis https://t.co/f5i9KcQD0W

— John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) April 11, 2018

Though his sudden change of heart is no doubt good for the legalization movement, it does show how complicated progress is for the movement, writes The Daily Beast. When he was speaker of the house, Boehner fought legislation tooth and nail. Hundreds of thousands of Americans were locked up for being in the business that Boehner is now in himself and many people seem to think Boehner is in the industry mainly for the big paycheck. Ean Seeb, a cannabis industry pioneer and founding partner at Denver Relief Consulting, told The Daily Beast, “The industry can see through this entire sham; Boehner appears to only be in this for financial gain.”