Former US House speaker to promote legalizing marijuana

CINCINNATI (AP) – Former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner says he has had a change of heart on marijuana and will promote its nationwide legalization.
    
Known as an avid cigarette smoker, the Ohio Republican has joined the advisory board of Acreage Holdings , a multistate cannabis company. The company also announced that former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld has joined its advisory board.
    
Boehner says in a statement his position "has evolved" from opposition to legalizing marijuana. He says he believes legalizing marijuana can be helpful to the nation’s veterans and as a way to help fight the U.S. opioid drug crisis. He wants to see federally funded research done and to allow Veterans Affairs to offer marijuana as a treatment option.
    
Boehner also says the move would curtail federal-state conflict on marijuana policies.