Mr. Boehner was elected to the House in 1990 and served as speaker from 2011 until his retirement in 2015. He attributes his altered stance on legalizing recreational marijuana to the shifting tides of public opinion on the matter.
“Over the last 10 or 15 years, the American people’s attitudes have changed dramatically,” said Mr. Boehner, according to Fortune. “I find myself in that same position.”
Mr. Boehner also said his opinion on marijuana changed when he saw its beneficial effects for a friend with chronic back pain and when he reevaluated its role in the criminal justice system.
“When you look at the number of people in our state and federal penitentiaries, who are there for possession of small amounts of cannabis, you begin to really scratch your head,” said Mr. Boehner, according to Fortune. “We have literally filled up our jails with people who are nonviolent and frankly do not belong there.”
Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, also a Republican, joined Mr. Boehner on the advisory board.
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