#intergovernmental relations

I am proud to have worked on inclusion of support for medical marijuana in our city's state legislative agenda. This will result in lobbying resources being directed into passing a state law to legalize medical marijuana and will also provide a significant push for state legislators.

My motion unanimously passed the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and was unanimously approved by the full city council today. My colleague, Council Member Lisa Bender, has been there every step of the way as well, working to drive this issue forward.

This topic is of personal importance to both Lisa and I, as we have respectively battled cancer and glaucoma. Beyond our personal interest, it is important that our city advocates for our nearly 400,000 residents and dozens of medical institutions to have every medicine at their disposal in the fight against terrible diseases and conditions. No one should needlessly suffer or be kept from a drug that could help them during their health struggles.

I had the honor to testify on behalf of state legislation legalizing medical marijuana during a Health and Human Services Committee meeting at the Capitol earlier this week, and am happy to report that the bill passed and will continue on.