"Marijuana Initiative Could Make or Break Obama in Colorado"

[Comrade Grumpy]

http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/nm/marijuana-initiative-could-make-or-break-obama-in-colorado

Marijuana initiative could make or break Obama in Colorado
By Samuel P. Jacobs, Reuters Jun. 02, 2012 2:06PM PDT

DENVER (Reuters) - Throughout his presidency, Barack Obama hasn't exactly been a friend to marijuana users. Sure, he has acknowledged smoking pot as a young man, but he has disappointed marijuana advocates by opposing its legalization, regulation and taxation like alcohol.

And the Justice Department's occasional crackdown under his administration on medical marijuana dispensaries, which 17 states and the District of Columbia allow, has angered others.

So now, with Obama facing a stiff challenge from Republican Mitt Romney in the November 6 election, it's ironic that his chances of winning the key state of Colorado could hinge on marijuana legalization, supported by a growing number of Americans.

At issue is whether Obama will get a boost from young voters expected to be among the most enthusiastic backers of a Colorado ballot initiative that would legalize possession of up to an ounce of pot for recreational use - and give the state the most liberal marijuana law in the nation.

<snip>

Much more at the link.

Rep. Silvestre Reyes in El Paso got knocked off in the Democratic primary by marijuana legalizer Beto O'Rourke.

Former interim US Attorney Dwight Holton was defeated in the Oregon Democratic attorney general primary by pro-medical marijuana former judge Ellen Rosenblum.

That's the way to get politicians to change their behavior. Make them lose elections.

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. Real Clear Politics shows Colorado as a toss-up state.

The question is how many disgruntled Coloradans will vote for Gary Johnson because they're pissed off about Obama's pot policies.

While I don't want Romney to win the election, I wouldn't mind seeing Obama lose Colorado because of the marijuana vote. That tends to concentrate the mind. Or he could change his position before the election.

[librechik]

2. from what he says, his mj position is ok--it's the DEA and others who defy his orders

which are causing the big problem. The DOJ is simply not under Obama's control. And he knows it, that's why he takes no risks. It was the elements within the DOJ that did Kennedy, no doubt. It is a rogue agency. And until Obama has the political capital (second term? I doubt it--DOJ "did" Clinton in the second term) he won't be able to make big changes--they will simply ignore him and it's safer to run around that than try to stop it.

[morningfog]

4. The DOJ is not an independent agency. It is a department in the Executive Branch.

It is directly under the Office of the White House. It is a department making up the Cabinet, just like State, Education, Agriculture, etc.

They do listen to him. He ordered the DOJ to not defend Section 3 of DOMA, they don't. He ordered the DOJ to review all pending deportations, they have. He ordered the DOJ to cease deportations of same-sex couples based on marital status, they did.

If he wanted the DOJ to stop raiding and trying marijuana distributors who are acting legally under state law, he could stop them.

[librechik]

6. Yeah. All he has to do is wave his wand

and politics will disappear. The fact is, the DOJ runs him. And he doesn't have the means to turn that around, or else he would have already, for obvious reasons.

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. Sorry, the president is in charge of the executive branch.

Attorney General Holder, DEA head Leonhart, and all the rest, serve at his sufferance.

Obama may not be running the anti-medical marijuana campaign, but the buck stops with him.

[morningfog]

9. He has turned it around on many issues. I provided examples. He could

fire Holder for not carrying out his policies. He has a lot of power here, and has used it when he wanted to. No wands necessary.

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Comrade Grumpy.

[otohara]

5. The Kids Will Come Out In Droves

Colorado will go blue, unless SOS Gessler is successful kicking Democrats,, Hispanics and AA's off voter lists. Gessler was told to halt his hunt for people to toss of the voter lists this past Friday. He's like Rick Scott and will do anything to turn CO red and that requires voter fraud lies and the need to shed some votes.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20762666/gessler-aide-homeland-security-stalling-colorado-voter-checks

The dispensary model is working quite well IMO - it will bring much needed income into our state.

[Robb]

8. Fortunately, Coloradoans are not idiots.

I suspect the ballot initiative will pass. I also suspect Obama will win Colorado.