“I asked him (the president) if I could have a spliff,”

[Ichingcarpenter]

When you go to a White House state dinner and you’re lucky enough to get some face time with the president, what do you ask the president?

“I asked him if I could have a spliff,” businessman and Virgin Group honcho Richard Branson told a crowd gathered at The Atlantic’s Washington offices Thursday, the day after attending the dinner for British Prime Minister David Cameron.





“But they didn’t have any,” Branson continued, according to a video of the event as he recalled his effort to procure weed the night before at the White House.
What’s he smoking? Well, Branson is a longtime advocate for the legalization of marijuana — and an admitted recreational pot puffer — and spoke at an Atlantic Exchange panel discussion titled “Benchmarching the War on Drugs.” Branson appeared alongside The Atlantic’s Washington Editor-At-Large Steve Clemons and Ethan Nadelmann, the executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74111.html#ixzz1pIlVkKlr

[zappaman]

1. I would have asked him the same thing

And then I would want to know since he admitted to smoking in the past, why on earth he continues this awful war on marijuana users.

[TheWraith]

2. Probably because he can't change federal law by imperial fiat.

The only way to legalize marijuana involves Congress.

[EOTE]

4. Non-sequitor.

He's not being asked to change the law, he's being asked to prioritize the DoJ exactly like he said that he would. But feel free to throw around more bullshit about how Obama couldn't possibly, you know, DO AS HE SAID HE WOULD IN 2008.

[msongs]

7. illegal marijuana = welfare jobs program for DOJ/police industrial complex nt

[EOTE]

9. How true.

But I can think of many far better ways that welfare money could be handled. Like, I dunno, maybe purchasing spray paint for teenagers to huff on the streets.

[Dragonfli]

15. It would be less harmful to the kids than the cops, certainly less harmful than imprisonment & rape

[zappaman]

10. +1 Exactly. nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. Executive branch agencies could reschedule marijuana RIGHT NOW.

If they wanted to. If they had any leadership from the top.

Obama could call off the DEA dogs and the US attorneys RIGHT NOW. If he wanted to.

Knee-jerk defense of the president because he's our guy is sad.

[Webster Green]

13. It is worse now than it was under Bush.

Far worse! Obama has stepped up the war on pot. That's a fact.

California has been set back a decade or more under the current DOJ. Holder is a fascist asshole.

[zbdent]

14. If he could ...

then why would he have had so much trouble getting legislation done? I mean, if you listen to RepugniconservaTEAbaggers, he's been exercising his "dictatorial" rights from day 1 ...

[eShirl]

21. "The only way to legalize marijuana involves Congress." WRONG.

You are apparently ignorant of existing law in this area. Will you educate yourself, or will you choose to remain ignorant?

[_ed_]

22. Red herring

Obama can control the prosecutions of the DOJ and instruct them to allow states to follow their own laws...you know, like it was the first two years of his Presidency.

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. +1

[Blue_Tires]

5. The president probably told Branson to bring his own stash...

What kind of cheapskate billionaire tries to bum some weed off of someone he's visiting??

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

8. That's how rich people stay rich. :-P nt

[Warren DeMontague]

11. Branson's right.

It's time to legalize it, already.

[tapermaker]

12. lifer here .

I wish they would legalize it .at 53 yrs old i have now been a user for 40yrs , I am tired of being thought of as a criminal for enjoying a plant.

[Rex]

16. A spliff? Forget that I want a Bob Marley!!!

If you go to visit the big kids..ask for a big boy joint!!!!

Failsauce!!!!!!!!!

[Uncle Joe]

17. That would be an outstanding buzz,

smoking one with the Prez at the White House, maybe to some Pink Floyd.

Kudos to Branson for his magnificent request.

Thanks for the thread, Ichingcarpenter.

[Safetykitten]

18. Is a spliff a kind of appetizer?

[Ellipsis]

19. More like an appetite appetizer enhancer

[jorno67]

20. wish I had enough money to pull off being that idiotic...

but then again I'd use that money for helping others and would no longer would I be able to afford such stupidity.

[Motown_Johnny]

23. That was disrespectful

You don't talk to the President like that, no matter how rich you are.

If he wanted to smoke then he should have stayed on his private island.