Help needed: Tell AG Cuomo, Democratic candidate for governor, to get some compassion

Published: October 26, 2010

 Please call Andrew Cuomo now!

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who is generally thought of as a progressive, blindsided New Yorkers yesterday, when he publicly came out against medical marijuana legislation. Cuomo, who has admitted using marijuana recreationally in the past, said “the dangers on medical marijuana outweigh the benefits,” and compared legalizing proven medicine to legalizing prostitution. This is an incredibly disappointing move by AG Cuomo, who is out of touch with the medical community, and with the vast majority of his constituents.

Please flood Cuomo’s campaign office with calls explaining why he is wrong about New York’s medical marijuana bill, and why he should reconsider his stance. If this statement affects your ability to vote for him, you should definitely include that as well. You can call or use Cuomo’s web contact form, drawing from the call action text. If you are a facebook fan of AG Cuomo’s, you can also respectfully advocate on his facebook page. If you are a New Yorker with a serious medical condition, please make sure to edit your text and include your personal story, and how Cuomo’s opposition affects you.

Though according to Pollster.com it is incredibly likely that AG Cuomo will be New York’s next governor, it is important to compare his cold-hearted stance with those of his opponents. Real estate developer and Tea Partier Carl Paladino, the only other major candidate in the race, has not taken a real stand on the issue, saying that he wanted it to be put to a referendum. This is a dodge, given that he should know that New York does not have a referendum law, and so a people’s vote on medical marijuana legislation is impossible. Libertarian candidate Warren Redlich returned MPP’s questionnaire, which asked about medical marijuana, by stating his support for full legalization of marijuana. Finally, Anti-Prohibition Party candidate Kristin Davis has made marijuana legalization a hallmark of her campaign, and specifically criticized Cuomo’s miscue today saying, “approving marijuana use by prescription could bring the state millions in tax revenues while safely bringing relief to suffering patients.”

Please make sure AG Cuomo hears loud and clear that his stance is out-of-step with the medical community and the public in New York. Call his campaign and urge him to change his heartless and unpopular stance. Please also urge other New Yorkers to follow suit. Forward this message, post the link to your social networking sites, and otherwise spread the word. We cannot let another year go by with patients criminalized for treating their illnesses.

Thank you for your support and compassion.