Mr. Obama, re legal marijuana,respect democracy in action and call off the dogs!

[Bonobo]

Now is the time to send the clear message and order your Justice Dept. and FBI to keep their hands OFF Colorado and other states that are allowing the people to vote on marijuana issues.

You smoked it and I think it is time to "evolve" on the issue as well --or would that be "devolve" since you should already know that it is no reason to destroy millions of lives with criminal charges and jail time.

Mr. Obama, do the right thing.

Democrats, stand up for the right thing and speak out.

[99th_Monkey]

1. Yes. Big congrats to CO and WA

this could be the start of something big, i.e. it is HIGH TIME for our
Federal Gov't to 1) listen to it's citizens, and 2) listen to science,
which keeps finding out ever more amazing healing properties of
"The Evil Weed".

[Upton]

2. Kick from Washington state...

[Lucinda]

3. I will be surprised if he doesn't.

It's time. (And I am not a smoker)

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Nothing much to add to that except…

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Would be great if Duffy backed off

and all the cases in San Diego were quietly dropped.

[Ya Basta]

6. +1,000,000

Yes Mr. President honor the will of the people. It can only make your Presidency go down as the people's President and increase/strengthen the rank & file of the Democratic party.

In fact push to Legalize It nationally.

[fleur-de-lisa]

7. K & R

and I don't even partake . . . but I don't see why anyone cares if others do. Let's stop wasting time and money on this, and stop sending decent people to jail . . . LEGALIZE it NOW!

[xchrom]

8. Du rec. Nt

[Go Vols]

9. Seems like the right thing for him top do.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. I could not agree more with you!

[Shampoobra]

11. In Washington...

...the attorney general* is required by law to enforce initiatives, and that includes Initiative 502.

So regardless of what the Justice Department might want to do regarding the state's responsibility to distribute and tax marijuana, one thing will stand:

Beginning December 6, 2012, the police can no longer arrest you in Washington state for possession of an ounce or less. The FBI could, in theory, but they won't.

*Speaking of the Washington State Attorney General: the Democratic candidate (Bob Ferguson) won by a huge margin.

[Bonobo]

12. No, but the FBI could raid the facilities easily as they have in SF, other places. nt

[Shampoobra]

13. Medical marijuana has already been legal in Washington state for 14 years

Initiative 502 legalized marijuana for recreational purposes.

Beginning December 6 of this year, the police will no longer be able to so much as write a traffic ticket for its possession (up to an ounce).

What I'm saying is, regardless of Federal raids on grow ops or distribution centers, the police (on every level below the Feds) will no longer be able to enforce laws against pot, because such laws are non-existent on the state, county, and local levels. Medical marijuana was legalized in 1998 (Initiative 692) and recreational marijuana was legalized in 2012 (Initiative 502).

[Bonobo]

14. Wonderful. I really mean it. nt

[Shampoobra]

15. I know. It's been slowly sinking in all day

It's exciting, and I don't even smoke it (in the morning)!

[B Calm]

16. Thinking about taking a summer vacation

in Colorado next year! This vote should be a real boost to tourism!!

[tavalon]

17. Yes, Mr. President

End the drug war. End it now.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

18. question

Does Obama have to officially do this? Declare it - that the feds will not intervene?

Or can it be done passively?

[Bonobo]

19. Passivity, it seems to me would be bad for a few reasons.

The Justice Dept. could take the cause up on their own, in the absence of leadership. An enterprising young go-getter in the JD could make it a crusade for example.

It would be cowardly also to not take a stand on the issue especially since now he could just call it a States rights issue and get cover that way.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

20. Well, I am all for it...but do worry that

emotions from the right are just too high now and without any other big issues to fill the news void, this could waste any capital Obama has.

I know full well that this is a cop-out position, and you are right, probably the "cowardly" approach. But, do you worry about major backlash if he does take a stand?

[Bonobo]

21. I think he has an easy fall back by claiming it is a state's rights issue.

That is something that Republicans give an awful lot of lip service to wrt issues ranging from gun rights, to abortion to gay marriage to health care... they could not get away with being anti-govt/pro-states and still claim that Obama whould use the feds to overturn the democratically voted in issue of marijuana rights without seeming like the biggest hypocrites in the world.

[Bohunk68]

22. He did take a stand for Marriage Equality

I wouldn't worry about what the Republics say. worrying about what they would say would be the "cowardly" approach.

[DCKit]

24. See below... the S.O is going to marry my gay ass this year because of Obama.

Those of you who consider him "innefective" can answer to either of his daughters, or the wife. Those women stand with me.

[DCKit]

23. We is speaking up. Get off our backs, already.