Rep. Jared Polis Questions DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart On Marijuana Policy

[DeSwiss]

Published on Jun 20, 2012 by JaredPolis31275

Congressman Jared Polis questions DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart during a hearing on the agency's priorities. He repeatedly pressed the administrator on the relative health impacts of marijuana versus other drugs.

- You have to admire the Congressman's patience in the face of such BS. And his self-control......

"The war on drugs has been an utter failure. We need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws… we need to rethink how we operate the drug wars." Barack Obama, January 21, 2004

"As for medical marijuana ... I'm not familiar with all the details of the initiative that was passed, but I think the basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs prescribed by doctors, I think that's entirely appropriate. ... I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue." ~Barack Obama, March 23, 2008

[99th_Monkey]

1. Speaking of "Contempt of Congress"?!?!

That lady clearly was refusing to answer a question and stalled around
dithering with double talk until the Congressman with the question's
time had expired.

Un-fucking-believable.

[DeSwiss]

7. Those too were my thoughts upon first seeing this.

And it was very difficult to sit through just these few minutes without punching my monitor. My respect for the Congressman's equanimity knows no bounds. The fact is, I don't know how people like this can live with themselves. While knowing all the havoc, pain and probable deaths that they are personally responsible for causing.

And of course she lied during her testimony as well. Or at least she misspoke because she clearly hasn't a fucking clue about what she was speaking of. She claimed in her testimony that all Schedule 1 drugs are addictive. That's not true. And what is worse, one of the drugs that is potentially very addictive isn't on the Schedule 1 list at all -- alcohol.

- But I no longer have any expectations that people like her will ever come to understand the truth, nor to have the courage tell it......

[99th_Monkey]

14. +100 ~nt

[lakota_weedist]

26. Call the DEA directly

Give Michele Leonhart a phone call and let her know what you think: http://www.weedist.com/quicklink/how-to-call-michele-leonhart-and-ask-why-the-dea-ignores-science-on-marijuana/

[kestrel91316]

2. That is one incredibly dimwitted woman. She's a law enforcement officer, as she says.

But I'm repeating myself.

Polly want a cracker? Brawck brawckkk!!!!

[DeSwiss]

8. How unfortunate, but true.....

[intheflow]

15. She even looked a bit like a parrot.

Admitting whether one drug is worse than another - when you're comparing pot with crack, meth and heroin - does not automatically mean you think pot should be legalized. This woman is a complete and utter moron.

[Warren DeMontague]

16. No, she knew what she was doing. Because she knows where most of the money goes.

The number one function of the DEA is to go after pot. It takes up the VAST majority of "drug war" resources.

Admit that it's not a major deal, and there goes the rationale for most of the funding, thereby putting the entire giant gravy train in danger.

[Romulox]

18. That horrible, horrible woman. I wonder how she got the job?

[Warren DeMontague]

19. She's not "horrible". She may even believe her own BS.

but, she's wrong.

[Romulox]

20. She isn't "wrong". She spouts the Administration's policies. Then she gets paid.

She does exactly what she has been instructed to do. By her boss. The President of the United States.

If we have an issue with her erroneous assertions and ludicrous policies, we must take it up with her boss. Scapegoating this woman is almost too convenient a diversion, otherwise.

[Warren DeMontague]

22. If you think im not holding the Pres responsible for pushing these failed policies, you are wrong.

Its one of the top complaints i have with the administration.

[Romulox]

23. OK. Michele Leonhart is a diversion, then, if you care about this admin's drug policy.

I certainly wasn't accusing you of anything. Just making my point about the scapegoat, er, I mean Ms. Leonhart.

[Warren DeMontague]

24. I hold her responsible as well, and im glad the reps gave her a hard time.

The policies need to change.

[Woody Woodpecker]

3. This man is a national treasure.

He knows how MMJ works and since he represents Boulder, where most of the baking and making edible hash are done there (as well as legally growing them - statewide). I want him to kick out the current US Attorney for Denver (who is a Bush crony, I believe) and replaced with a like-minded US Attorney that reflects the true beliefs of Colorado.

[DeSwiss]

9. Agreed.

After the Revolution we'll know he's a keeper.

[Romulox]

4. It's unfair to demonize Leonhart--she's merely parroting Obama administration positions. nt

[DeSwiss]

10. So you're saying she has no will of her own?

That she must lie to the American public, in order to follow her master's bidding? To keep her job? No matter how many she harms, hurts or kills in the process?

- Yeah, that would be unfair.......

[Romulox]

17. Nope. I'm saying she is reciting the President's policy. Nothing more, nothing less.

Scapegoating her is counterproductive, at very best. Michele Leonhart isn't a rogue DEA agent; it's the President's policy.

[DeSwiss]

25. I'm not scapegoating anyone.....

...and if you'll look at the OP I included the President's statements and sentiments (as expressed in those two articles I've linked) on the issue. So I'm confused as to exactly what his policy is since it appears he's saying one thing and having her do another.

[YOHABLO]

5. She's Parroting What She's Been Told To Say?

People like her in this administration ARE THE PROBLEM. They are put into positions whereby they are completely uneducated about the science and research surrounding drugs. I am 56 years old and have smoked my fair share of marijuana. And as we all know, addiction to marijuana is ridiculous. Alcohol is very addictive, but yet we can hop into our local pub and knock back a few beers, and perhaps have a few shots, and get in our cars and hopefully get home without hurting anyone in our impaired state. Obama is a flip flopper on this issue and I swear to god it's time to put this shit to rest. LEGALIZE FUCKING MARIJUANA NOW.

[DeSwiss]

11. YES!

[90-percent]

6. Marijuana Prohibition

The current situation is akin to TREATING DANDRUFF BY DECAPITATION, to quote some Senate Testimony by my hero Frank Zappa during the rock ratings debate.

The absolutely most unhealthy aspect of marijuana is becoming entangled with our medieval American criminal justice system if caught with marijuana.

Getting sent to jail and getting your life ruined is absolutely by far the most damaging aspect of marijuana use.

Tell me why this woman's testimony doesn't deserve a big fat fucking CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS CITATION?

another nasty side effect of marijuana prohibition is that it may cause unintended death to innocent people, like, for example, the estimated 50,000 dead mexicans. Just a little blow back and unintended consequences of our imbecilic marijuana prohibitions.

The fucking cure is worse than the disease, fer chrissakes!

Mexico has lost almost as many people in this drug war as America lost IN THE ENTIRE VIET NAM CONFLICT! (50,000 vs. 58,000)

And the demand is as high as ever. What is it about America that makes so many of us strive to go through our lives totally anesthetized, any way?

It's pretty damn sweet watching a Congressman actually representing the people that elected him. What a refreshing concept! I hope he never morphs into a vapid bureaucrat like this non-responsive female waste of skin who's solitary redeeming value seems to be in running out the clock.

There will come a time when we look back on our failed and stupid marijuana prohibitions and see it as something as ignorant as blood letting with leeches.

-90% Jimmy

[DeSwiss]

12. +1000

[jjewell]

13. God, I hate "drones"...

Aerial or sedentary...

[RainDog]

21. sorry for the double post

I missed this one earlier.

but, with all the doublespeak, maybe double posts are double plus good!

[Warren DeMontague]

27. I'm really hoping a 2nd Obama term will bring more sanity on this front.