Anti-pot politicians are getting into the marijuana industry
Politicians are in their positions, in theory, to bestow the will of the people on the land. If the people want guns, they’re supposed to lobby for guns. If they want free water, they’re supposed to lobby for free water. If they want legalized marijuana, they’re supposed to lobby – not so fast. A number of politicians have routinely fought to keep marijuana out of governments’ playbooks, which is why it’s so confusing that many are now opening marijuana businesses following their political careers.
Take, for example, Brain Mulroney, a Canadian prime minister. He fought hard against legalized marijuana when he held the reins, but, now, is on the board of Acreage Holdings, a marijuana investment firm.
Then there’s former Conservative cabinet minister and police chief Julian Fantino. The former Canadian top cop once said that legalizing marijuana would be legalizing murder. He fought against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plan to legalize marijuana, calling it a “harmful drug.” That hasn’t stopped him from signing on with a medical marijuana business since leaving politics. Compounding the issue is the fact that Fantino used to oversee Canada’s Veterans Affairs department, meaning he deprived thousands of military individuals the decent treatment he is now supporting.
The ink is barely dry on Canada’s bill to legalization recreational marijuana, yet many of those who routinely opposed it are now jumping at the opportunity to get into the industry. It raises questions about what was driving them to suppress marijuana expansion while in office, and where their true alliances can be found.
