Obama Administration ‘Firmly Opposes’ Marijuana Legalization

[Bullet1987]

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/05/11/obama-administration-%E2%80%98firmly-opposes%E2%80%99-marijuana-legalization-heres-why/">Alternet

The Obama administration said Tuesday that it “firmly opposes” the legalization of any illicit drugs as California voters head to the polls to consider legalizing marijuana this fall.

The president and his drug czar re-emphasized their opposition to legalizing drugs in the first release of its National Drug Control Strategy this morning.

“Keeping drugs illegal reduces their availability and lessens willingness to use them,” the document, prepared by Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske, says. “That is why this Administration firmly opposes the legalization of marijuana or any other illicit drug.”

Is anyone surprised? You shouldn’t be. After all, this is the same Gil Kerlikowske that has said repeatedly that legalization is not in his vocabulary, and publicly stated, “Marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal benefit.” And this is the same administration that recently nominated Michele Leonhart to head the DEA — the same Michele Leonhart who overruled the DEA’s own administrative law judge in order to continue to block medical marijuana research, and publicly claimed that the rising death toll civilians attributable to the U.S./Mexican drug war “a signpost of the success” of U.S. prohibitionist policies.

Yet, given that national polls now indicate that an estimated one out of two Americans nationwide support legalization, and that a solid majority of west coast voters and Californians back regulating the retail production and distribution of pot like alcohol, it seems politically counterproductive for the administration to maintain such a ‘flat Earth’ policy. So what could possibly be their reasoning?
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Wow...just wow. Not to mention the Obama Administration have their "facts" wrong on this. More people consider marijuana easier to obtain now than ever. It seems Obama has decided to keep wasting money on the War on Drugs. This is HORRIBLE policy! But not totally surprising since marijuana laws are used against the poor and minorities to keep them in control more than anyone else and used to fund the security state. Making marijuana illegal would destroy the prison industry over night...Obama obviously doesn't want to do that. Just...wow.

[zabet]

1. IMHO....

the only reason it is not already legalized.....is that none of big pharma can patent it as a medicine.

Legalized, taxed and regulated (like alcohol), this could go far in helping clear our debt.

[Bullet1987]

4. Well people say legal marijuana wouldn't be an expensive as the market value

on the street where a gram can go at about $20. It should be made illegal for the simple fact that it's a policy rooted in racism. Look into the history of marijuana prohibition and you'll know what I'm talking about. It was a horrible policy under Bush and is STILL a horrible policy under Obama. Democratic politicians are really behind the curve.

[phleshdef]

15. What exactly is there to patent though?

[WeDidIt]

20. I disagree

I think the biggest reason cannabis has not been legalized is there is no definitive test to prove somebody is under the influence. All they can test for is whether or not you've injested it within the past 15 to 30 days.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

21. Then why are cigarettes legal? Alcohol?

[Citizen Kang]

45. And we all know Obama is cozy with Big Pharma

See Health Insurance Reform.

But who really cares what he thinks? California is going to legalize and tax it this November. Other states will follow.

[msongs]

2. a strategy based on lies lol "reduces their availability"... nt

[jefferson_dem]

3. Disappointing.

n/t

[skeptical cynic]

5. Another president suffering from Reefer Madness.

This is a case where the public clearly has it's own ideas and is ignoring the laws of the land.

Give law-abiding citizens laws they can abide, please.

Oh look. Unrecs. That's a surprise.

[YOY]

6. ...

...

...

...

...

{shakes head}

[Jennicut]

7. Anyone is surprised by this? Legalizing drugs will never happen until

demographics change. Older people don't want it legalized. It is getting closer to being split down the middle and there is support for it strongest in the western states. But on a liberal board, of course we are all going to be for it. I am for legalization of all drugs but that defiantly is never happening.

PRINCETON, NJ -- Gallup's October Crime poll finds 44% of Americans in favor of making marijuana legal and 54% opposed. U.S. public support for legalizing marijuana was fixed in the 25% range from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, but acceptance jumped to 31% in 2000 and has continued to grow throughout this decade. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123728/U.S.-Support-Legalizing-Marijuana-Reaches-New-High.aspx

I think support will keep growing and it will be changed by states voting on it. Decriminalization is the first step.

[Bullet1987]

10. I don't want ALL drugs legalized...just marijuana because it doesn't kill and has medical uses

And you're wrong, this isn't a Left/Right issue. MANY Republicans support legalization. I think you may be right about the age gap though.

[Jennicut]

19. Repubs that lean libertarian would be for it.

Authoritarian types, probably not.
Per Gallup:



On the age gap: "Gallup also finds a generational rift on the issue, as 50% of those under 50 and 45% of those 50 to 64 say it should be legal, compared with 28% of seniors." http://www.gallup.com/poll/123728/U.S.-Support-Legalizing-Marijuana-Reaches-New-High.aspx

[The Damned]

27. Ironic that old people oppose it

It could be of great benefit for them during terminal illnesses.

[Hippo_Tron]

57. And more importantly, old people vote and young people don't

If 18-30 year olds voted in the numbers that their parents do, pot would probably be legal at this point. Also the drinking age would be 18.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

63. Exactly. A majority of people aren't for it yet. It sucks right now, but in time it's inevitable.

[HughMoran]

8. It should be legal. Given that, it's really a state's issue IMO

[Bullet1987]

12. It shouldn't be a state's issue though because Federal law trumps

State law. Not to mention, it's just stupid to say marijuana is ok is THIS state...but 100% illegal right next door in another state. The policy is very weakly defined and has lost a lot of support. But Obama doesn't seem to care.

[HughMoran]

13. It's decriminalized in a couple of states here in the NE

But I'm sure right-wingers in bright-red western states don't want it - that's all I'm saying.

[zipplewrath]

9. Unfortunately I fear

This is another example of a president absolutely petrified of giving the GOP any ammunition to label him a "liberal". He's afraid to take the lead on DADT, he ressurected an old GOP proposal as a framework for his health insurance reform, he stuck with Gates and has doubled down in Afghanistan, and he stuck with the SOFA agreement in Iraq. And he went on Fox News to brag about "rejecting progressives", and honored Rick Warren at his inauguration.

There's no way he's gonna look "soft on drugs". The only reason he's willing to move towards a "medical" approach on his drug policy is that it's been fairly well understood for a decade or so that the "war" ain't going well.

[ima_sinnic]

48. are you saying he's cowardly and unprincipled? who knew? (nt)

[zipplewrath]

53. Not exactly

He's got this "do drama" philosophy that says if you're pissing off the "honest" opposition, you're doing something wrong.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ensho]

14. why is Obama and team being stupid about weed?

what is behind the stupidity?

[rudy23]

17. Because they're the machine now. It was never about Bush policies--he was just manning the machine,

just like Obama is now. What we saw in the campaign has zero to do with manning the machine.

[Moochy]

65. Bill Hicks .. I wish he was wrong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MRykTpw1RQ

[Starbucks Anarchist]

16. Disappointing but hardly a surprise.

[damonm]

28. This.

[Froward69]

18. surely if Obama is against it

Republicans would be for it?

I think it is Pharma leading the call against.
Followed by Oil and Cotton.
Obama is not as progressive as we thought.

[freebrew]

30. Don't forget the prison industry.

They're making $zillions off of otherwise law-abiding citizens.

[Bullet1987]

32. And the Prison-Industrial Complex mixed with DEA and law enforcement types

that want to keep getting government funds to fight the "War on Drugs."

[SemiCharmedQuark]

22. I don't think marijuana should be roped in with "any other drug"

I think it should be legal and taxed.


What about decriminalization?

[cottonseed]

23. You're not a real progressive unless you support marijuana legalization.

The first president to sign into law the right to smoke marijuana will be the president who had done more for the united states than any since Abraham Lincoln.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[polichick]

25. Another asinine Republican stance taken by this Republican-lite admin. nt

[tekisui]

26. I would be shocked if he thought otherwise.

It has been a long time since I have been pleasantly surprised by an action from this WH.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

29. My thoughts exactly

thank you for echoing them.

[mochajava666]

35. Exactly how I feel

[TheKentuckian]

31. Pharma and the prison industry like the status quo which means that's what Obama wants

The President is in the pocket of the establishment and is there not because he is bought or afraid but simply because thats how he rolls. He's an ideological corporatist and pretty conservative (not to be confused with being a radical regressive or a Reich wing reactionary as populates the Republican party).

[Bullet1987]

33. And therein lies to problem

[Hippo_Tron]

58. Right...

I'm sure pharma and the prisons loved it when the President stopped the arrests of people for medical marijuana.

[TheKentuckian]

81. They can only build the jails so quick, that's just a very minor impact filter

Don't even pretend this token gesture which doesn't always get followed is impacting the traffic for either industry in any measurable way.

[robinblue]

83. I do believe you are right.

[harry_pothead]

34. I would take my obama stickers down and change my desktop wallpaper to something else

But I already did that after he supported the mass firing of the Central Falls 93.

[ProSense]

36. Barack Obama on Marijuana Decriminalization (2004)

Video: Barack Obama on Marijuana Decriminalization (2004)

"Is anyone surprised? You shouldn’t be."

You're right, but I'm sure most people heard him say he would legalize Marijuana and make it the cornerstone of his Presidency.

[Bullet1987]

38. Thanks...I forgot about that!

Even his "willingness" to stop the DEA from raiding legal marijuana dispensaries hasn't REALLY been enforced since it has still been going on ever since he became President.

[Forkboy]

42. Some raids are still happening, but less of them than before.

The trade has boomed in Montana since the Obama administration last year said it would not prosecute medical marijuana cases. More than 4,800 new patients were added to the state’s registry in the first three months of this year, according to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services.

As of March 31, the state had some 12,081 patients and about 2,800 registered caregivers providing them with medical marijuana. In 2008, there were about 800 registered patients.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/05/11/attacks_throw_light_on_montanas_medical_marijuana_boom/

[Romulox]

71. You don't understand what some of the words in that clip mean, do you?

Obama says that he SUPPORTS "decriminalization" (later he would retract, claiming that he didn't know what the word meant... :rofl: )

[Enrique]

37. 100% politics

Obama doesn't believe a word of this.

[dionysus]

39. poutrage of the day? hooookay.

[Forkboy]

40. How did you feel after your cancer treatments?

Not a "poutrage" to a fuckload of people with cancer or mental illness. Also, any idea how many millions of pot smokers are currently sitting in U.S. jails because of it? Are you ok with that?

Stop being so kneejerk defensive that you shut off thought. There's more to marijuana legalization than just a bunch of stoners sitting around a hookah. :shrug:

[dionysus]

41. of all the problems this country is facing, getting pissed about legalizing dope is pretty far down

the list. would i like it legalized? sure. am a going to bust a blood vessel because of this statement by the administration? hardly.

and if the state of california can't even legalize it yet, expecting the administration to try and legalize it nationally when the public isn't behind the notion is absurd.

in the meantime, herb is affordable and easy to obtain.

[Forkboy]

43. Like I said, how did you fell after your chemo?

in the meantime, herb is affordable and easy to obtain.

So you're going to send my mother to some local street dealer, where she risks arrest, just because she'd like to get through an afternoon not hunched over the toilet vomiting?

That's nice of you.

[dionysus]

46. i never said i want it to remain illegal. you can accuse me of wanting cancer patients to suffer,

but it should be beneath you.

the voters will decide this. if you want to have a huge news story and political argument that will solve absolutely nothing, get the administration to make legalizing herb a huge priority.

[Forkboy]

54. If you're mocking people who care, which is exactly what your reply does...

...than you certainly can't have that much empathy for cancer patients who would benefit from it. Or the 800,000 per year still getting arrested for smoking it. You made ZERO effort to address this issue in your first reply. It was derisive towards the people who care about this, and who have damn good reason to. If you prefer to defend Brand Obama and mock people instead of showing empathy don't be surprised if people feel you don't care. Want a different reaction? Show you care first, not after being called on it.

[dionysus]

56. this doesn't have to do with brand obama. to me it's brand "common sense". let me explain my view.

i'd prefer the administration said nothing either way about this issue because;

1) this is a voter initiative in california, not pending legislation in the house or senate
2) the rest of the nation is not yet california. so while it would be awesome (to us) if the administration put out a statement listing the reasons (seen throughout this thread) why it should be legalized, what do you really think that would accomplish?

while the stoners will be like "whoa, awesome", and the medical marijuana community will see the suffing prevented, my thought is the only real consequence out of such a statement would be the entire media and half of the voting populace saying "they, they, they want to legalize DRUGS?!?!?!?" (see post 7)

i don't disagree with any of the reasons why pot should be legalized.

and i don't think it'd help the initiative pass anyways. the voters of california aren't going to change their minds on this issue base on what the president says, so why have a needless media circus and alienate any anti-drug dems?

that's why i'd rather they had said nothing.

[Forkboy]

67. I wish you had led with this post.

The "poutrage" stuff is only making the ones saying it look silly. Your post here doesn't. I like this one much better, and thank you for it.

:toast:

[dionysus]

68. well, sometimes I spout without remembering to clarify my position...

;)

[Forkboy]

78. heh

you and me both, brother! :)

[ima_sinnic]

49. actually, with the amount of debt this country has, the number incarcerated and the cost of that,

the violence associated with drug cartels and illegal drug running, the time wasted by police forces that could be better spent, the lives ruined or even lost for small amounts of marijuana that might have contributed to society, the medical benefits, the wasted opportunity from not using hemp (another related issue), and a myriad of other reasons, it's totally STUPID and HYPOCRITICAL not to legalize it--but that is par for this administration. If the solution is the stupidest and least innovative, that is the one Obama chooses.

oh, and herb is not "affordable." sheesh. wake the fuck up. $20 for a "nickel bag" (which means, it used to cost literally $5) might seem "cheap," but that $20 could end up as years in prison and your life ruined if you happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. And $200+/ounce is not "affordable" for a goddam WEED.

[ZombieHorde]

70. +666 Some Duers have been applauding President Obama for his support of

off shore drilling.

Some DUers were against health care mandates when President Obama was against them, and then for the mandates when he was for them. There is definitely a pattern going on.

If he supported Palin, some DUers would suddenly support her as well. Chess Master!

[Romulox]

72. What's a little police state between friends?

What a phony. :hi:

[Phx_Dem]

44. Nooooooooooooo!!!

Bummed, but not surprised.

:cry: :cry::cry:

[jesus_of_suburbia]

47. It should be legal, and I don't even smoke it!

I don't think all drugs should be legal, but to me marijuana seems similar to alcohol (ok in moderation).

[RoadRage]

50. Yup.. I like Obama, but this is one of the area's where I disagree with him...

Legalizing MJ has several benefits:

1. It introduces a new product that can be heavily taxed

2. It gives Mexican drug cartels less leverage and income

3. It gives drug dealers in the US less leverage and income

4. It gives local police officers more time to focus on "Real" crime

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MrSlayer]

52. This is why I hate politicians in general.

They know they are clearly wrong on certain subjects yet they let the bullshit fly anyway.

[ConcernedCanuk]

55. I've said it before, and I'll say it again

.
.
.

If Weed was legal in the USA

the wars would stop

USA without it's wars . . .

OMG

the World might LIKE the USA!!!

hmmmmm

:freak:

[Bjorn Against]

59. Someone should ask them whether they "firmly believe" Obama was once a criminal

He has admitted to smoking pot himself, I wonder if he would tell us that he was a dangerous criminal that needed to be locked up.

For the record I absolutely do not think that Obama should be considered a criminal nor do I think any other pot smoker should be considered a criminal, I would only suggest that the administration should hold a similar consistency in their position.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

60. Even my conservative students wrote papers in support of legalization. n/t

[golfguru]

61. Add up all the tax money wasted on Marijuana Control....it is stupid

Start with jails needed for a very large number of people busted for possession.

Then add the police hours spent in arresting & processing.

Then add the judge, bailiff, defense lawyer, clerks...all paid by tax payers.

Then add loss of tax revenue...Billions of dollars.

Then look at who is benefiting from MC (Marijuana Control)..
The drug cartel, street peddlers, crime syndicates.

Personally speaking I have never smoked any thing and will never start that
filthy habit. So the only horse I have in this race is waste of Billions of
dollars of tax money.

Just like prohibition made Al Capone rich, now we are making the criminals rich.
Those who want it can get it, just like in prohibition days banning alcohol.

Most important, most of us are smart enough to never start using Marijuana.

[Blue Owl]

62. The leaf brings peace

and peace ain't profitable these days.

Wise up, President Obama. Get with the program.

Quit listening to the people who keep telling you that wars are the answer to everything.

[KansasVoter]

64. It should be legal and I never used it once!

[fishwax]

66. no surprise there

The people are going to have to lead on this issue. National politicians are unlikely to.

[mstinamotorcity]

69. Anyone who expected

this administration to legalize weed must be smoking some goooooood stuff. We all know the legalization of marijuana isn't going to happen now. The voting block isn't right yet. Maybe by the time our President leaves office decriminalization will be on the table. But for now the prisons and the amount of money that cannot be tracked is too plentiful for them to break up. Big Pharma is a drug dealer. And for all we know may be in on the import of different drugs into our country. Might explain why the Bush Administration was so cozy with Afghanistan's President Karzi's brother.:smoke: :smoke: :smoke:

[Bullet1987]

75. You see...I don't think it has anything to do with the voters

I think it has everything to do with the interests that would be really hurt by seeing marijuana legalized. History has shown, these private interests will ALWAYS have more power than average voters.

[mstinamotorcity]

77. If you are talking

about big Pharma, then you may be right. Because legalization of marijuana would almost make aspirin obsolete.The proven benefits from hemp the potent kind as well as the non-potent kind (grown for clothing and other fashions and purposes) are nature's best work. Most corporations don't want you to use products of nature as solutions to problems, because then you have no need to purchase their products for pain,clothes,purses,house ware,cleaning products,and the list goes on.Think about it,a sixtynine cents box of baking soda can do wonders,hell if it could take out the garbage I might divorce my husband and marry it(smile),but throw in some advertising and some chemicals and you get your super duper odor controlling obnoxious smelling cleaning product that cost four bucks.

The amount of money in the underground world of drugs is slated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars a year. That kind of money has to have political hands on it.Can someone say Iran Contra.

[Bullet1987]

79. Oh I definitely believe there are political hands involved in the drug world

The CIA has been caught trafficking drugs several times.

[Romulox]

73. If Obama believes drug use is a police matter, then he should REPORT TO JAIL.

Barack Obama: admitted drug user, hypocrite.

[tranche]

74. Calm down sparky. I know there hasn't been a lot of tea paties to attend in a while...

but you've got to find a better way to blow off steam.

[Romulox]

76. What an idiotic response. nt

[Gordonskene]

80. Making Marijuana (and drugs in general) legal in 1971

I just ran this piece over at Newstalgia. Back in 1971 it was a question of legalizing all drugs, not just Marijuana as this episode of The Advocates illustrates.

http://newstalgia.crooksandliars.com/gordonskene/1971-big-question-was-should-all-drugs

[budkin]

82. This sucks.

[phleshdef]

84. This is pure CYA political speak. The Obama admin has not attempted to crack down on other states...

...that have passed decriminalization measures.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

85. If it was legal for pot smokers to grow their own limited amount for their own use

you would take away billions of dollars from illegal drug gangs/cartels. You could even make people declare and pay a tax on their personal use growth

There would be no point in large scale farming operations in national parks and forests.

There would be less overall drug abuse because how can you be a "gateway" for yourself to other illegal drugs if all you are doing is smoking pot? The gateway occurs when the pot sellers also sell other drugs.

We would also save a bazillion dollars that we spend currently incarcerating low level pot users/smokers

Less crime
More taxes
Safer federal lands
Less drug abuse
Smaller prison population