President Obama is Wrong on Marijuana

I thoroughly agree. More revenue. Medical marijuana to those who need it. Recreational marijuana to those who want it. Major hit on drug cartels. Standards and treatment equal to alcohol and cigarettes. Lower prison populations. Everyone a winner!

Just one snag in the Obama Administration's decision not to prosecute medical marijuana providers: the DEA is still leading raids, and have indicated that they will continue to do so. Someone needs to pass the memo ....

I agree, DebraS.

But you know what, I bet Obama won't touch this, out of fear of a backlash...

can you imagine how the rightwingers would spin this?

They already think he's pretty far out there as it is...I think this would send them into an eternal tailspin.

It is a shame though, because here we have this issue, that could help in so many areas...just sitting there, like the redheaded stepchild that no one wants to deal with....lol


But we can hope....

I'm telling you the world looks better through rose colored eyes. Some times you just have to sit back and relax and not worry about a thing. Just be happy.

Michelle10:59AMMar 30th 2009
I agree, DebraS.

But you know what, I bet Obama won't touch this, out of fear of a backlash...

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Oh I don't know. I'd imagine most pot smokers are Obama supporters to begin with. And vice versa. He's got nothing to lose and as a Republican I'm fine with it. If y'all want to toke up and take a pass on the next election cuz you're too stoned to get yourselves over to the voting booth, have at it.

I agree with you too, Michelle. Understand that it could easily be an issue that distracts and derails. Perhaps we can hope for later in the second term ... when he does not have to run for reelection, some of his policies will have had an opportunity to succeed (or progress), and the legislative agenda is not quite so overwhelmed. His Administration just needs to get a grip on the DEA, and move toward decriminalization in general.

Completely agree that marijuana should be decriminalized. However, I think Obama won't touch this either, at least not at the beginning of his first term. I would say if anything, if he were elected for a second term, he would be more likely to address it then. I think the right wingers would have a hay day with it as well. Also, at the moment he has bigger issues to deal with. I just hope within the next decade politicians can come to their senses.

If marijuana is such a benign drug, how come all the people I meet that use it are such losers.

Legalizing is the way to go, tax it to the gilt which sure would help with our enormeous debt. Totally agree with you all for legalization, can't happen soon enough.

bob11:05AMMar 30th 2009

Oh I don't know. I'd imagine most pot smokers are Obama supporters to begin with. And vice versa. He's got nothing to lose and as a Republican I'm fine with it. If y'all want to toke up and take a pass on the next election cuz you're too stoned to get yourselves over to the voting booth, have at it.
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bob,
Once again a Republican who does not know what he is talking about or who he is talking to. I do not smoke marijuana and don't plan to, even if it is legalized. I want the revenue. I want people to receive it for medical treatments without harrassment of themselves or their doctors. Much like alcohol, I see nothing wrong in its recreational use, as long as people do not get behind the wheel. I want to hurt the drug cartels, by taking a major source of their revenue. And, I do not want people to go to jail for the "crime" of being in any way connected to the use and distribution of marijuana. Prohibition in this country has never worked, and creates a criminal class that should not be created in the first place, negatively impacting people's personal and professional lives.

Those who oppose legalization and a common sense attitude tend to be social conservatives ... who also strongly trend Republican. Perhaps you need to get out more.

Only a pot head would take your line of thinking. I watched what it did in our family and it is not harmless and it should not be sancioned. It almost destroyed one member and another is well on his way thanks to this terrible weed. Medical marijuana is just a way for those like yourself, Mr Knowles(who obviously have used a lot of it)to have access to it without fear of penalty.

CG11:17AMMar 30th 2009

If marijuana is such a benign drug, how come all the people I meet that use it are such losers.

You mean like Michael Phelps and Bing Crosby?

Georgia,

I prefer a much more harmful substance, alcohol, for my recreational fun. Alas, I'm not a fan of pot. But it should certainly be decriminalized.

hey bob and georgia, try going thru chemo and radiation without MJ. it is truley hell. Even the hospitals use a derivative of pot, thc in pill form to help with the symptoms.

CG11:17AMMar 30th 2009

If marijuana is such a benign drug, how come all the people I meet that use it are such losers.
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Probably because you are a loser and just gravitate towards other losers. Weed does not discriminate. I think your statement sums up best why you find that so. You're a loser. Only a loser would make such a loser comment. Here are some other "losers."

Phelps is a loser. Willie Nelson is a loser huh? Presidents Bush, Obama, Clinton, all losers. The Governor of New York -- a blind loser. Someone in your family -- loser. The tons of other politicians who smoke or still do. The tons of productive Americans who make a lot more money and are far better organized and smarter than you. They must be losers. Everyone not inclined to "think" as you, must be losers. Ha.

No. The comment above is indicative of a pure imbecile. In fact, I wouldn't call anyone a loser for never trying it, however, I would think them extremely odd at this point. This stain above was probably the dork pounding a bible without a job during prohibition and belting a few back while it was in place. Or, was to afraid to take a sip of booze. Apparently, you don't hang around winners. Like the last three presidents.

Loser.

Debra S.11:23AMMar 30th 2009


bob,
Once again a Republican who does not know ...yadda yadda yadda... Perhaps you need to get out more.

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Debra,

Stop taking yourself and everything you read so seriously.

This is not a major issue. It's a sideshow issue. I treated it accordingly.

We've got a few things to get done in this country before this should even be on anyone's radar screen. The fact that it got as much play as it did during the run up to the little online town hall gimmick is an indication to me that a significant portion of Obama's base has a decided interest in decriminalization of marijuana and I'd lay good money on that having nothing to do with it's legitimate medical use.

So while my remarks weren't meant to be taken seriously, they were in fact pretty accurate.

Have a lovely day.

And, I'm sure this hit and run "blogger" won't return for any sort of intellectual discussion on this, but, based on his/her comment, I take you disagree with the article and support Obama. Ok.

moderate11:28AMMar 30th 2009

hey bob and georgia, try going thru chemo and radiation without MJ. it is truley hell. Even the hospitals use a derivative of pot, thc in pill form to help with the symptoms.

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You've just killed your own argument there, Sparky. If it's available in pill form already, the need for herb form is probably non-existent.

Il Duce. Barack Obama is proving to be as much a fascist as Benito Mussolini. Telling General Motors and the banking industry WHO would not be permitted to manage those companies. Nationalize Savings and Loans, Energy, now automotive. All of this can be avoided if Obama focuses on the economy, getting loan money into the business operations instead of putting the cash into the pockets of his “special interests” (ACORN, etc.) and the massive “pork” programs. Do YOUR job Barack or we will put YOU out of work..

Bob... the pill did not work oncologist said smoke weed. Okay sparky!

This is clearly not a major issue, however, David makes a good argument. I mean, considering funding law enforcement on this is obscene -- to the tune of a year in the county as a maximum in my state for one joint -- coupled with the knowledge this is not as dangerous as alcohol, Obama is really soft when it comes to it. We know what he really thinks about this issue, yet, he won't go forward.

You can see that marijuana prosecutions won't be the focal point of the Fed as much. They won't be wasting resources enforcing Federal law that conflicts with current state law where it is legal for medicinal purposes. Or state law that decriminalizes it. The Fed's not swooping in anymore. So, why not just do the intellectually honest thing and legalize it? He can't.

Society, for whatever reason, isn't ready for it. Sure it would bankrupt the cartels in Mexico and stop a lot of problems. Sure it's no biggie. Sure it only became illegal because it was thought to make people go crazy and rape women in the thirties. Sure that was based on stereotypes about Mexicans. Sure it has medicinal value. Sure, people have a right to enjoy something not harmful to others and enjoy the quality of life they choose. Sure this is antithetical and hypocritical to a lot of laws.

But, Obama can't move on this. I don't know if he's wrong in the sense that it isn't worth wasting political capital and sacrificing other issues more important. It is sick to see some poor kid popped with a misdemeanor and go to jail for a doob.