Patrick Kennedy's file

Democrat from Rhode Island

Patrick Kennedy is a former Democratic congressman from Rhode Island. He served from 1995 to 2011, opting not to seek re-election in 2010 following the death of his father, Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy.

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Recent statements made by Patrick Kennedy

Let's be blunt: Not quite right.

Patrick Kennedy

Marijuana and THC "have caused emergency room visits to skyrocket."

— PunditFact on Friday, July 6th, 2018

Today's bud is not your father's doobie

Patrick Kennedy

Marijuana today is "genetically modified," with THC levels that "far surpass the marijuana" of the 1970s.

— PolitiFact National on Friday, January 24th, 2014

Laws allow use for many conditions

Patrick Kennedy

"Eighty percent of those who have applied for licenses have no cancer, no Parkinson's disease or glaucoma. They have nothing you would associate [with] the use of medical marijuana."

— PolitiFact Rhode Island on Sunday, February 3rd, 2013

Medical costs among many causes of bankruptcy

Patrick Kennedy

"The largest number of bankruptcies in our country are really as a result of health care."

— PolitiFact Rhode Island on Sunday, July 29th, 2012

Insurance companies don't get that much.

Patrick Kennedy

"One-third of the health care dollar goes to no such thing as health care; it goes to the insurance companies."

— PolitiFact National on Friday, October 30th, 2009