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Showing Original Post only (View all)President Obama's puzzling silence on marijuana policy [View all]
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2017033938_peirce18.html"Dance with the One that Brought You" is the title of a well-known song. But the Urban Dictionary offers a deeper meaning: "The principle that someone should pay proper fealty to those who have gone out of their way to look after them."
But what about President Obama? In 2004 he endorsed marijuana decriminalization. He was candid about his early pot use and in 2006 told a group of magazine editors: "When I was a kid, I inhaled, frequently." By his run for president in 2008, he was slipping away from decriminalization but at least talked of a "public health" approach, emphasizing drug treatment instead of prison, giving drug-reform advocates hope for a new day in national policy.
But Obama as president has been a clear disappointment to reform forces. In White House-initiated electronic town halls, respondents heavily weighted to original Obama supporters have repeatedly put marijuana at the top of their issue lists. But the White House has either laughed off or provided dismissive retorts.
Obama's Drug Policy Office claims the drug war is over, replaced by a focus on shrinking demand, "innovative, compassionate and evidence-based drug policies." But Obama has not once singled out marijuana a substance arguably far less harmful to the human body than alcohol for special consideration. Nor has he spoken to the harm to youth caused by 800,000 yearly arrests. Or moved to stem the billions of dollars a year spent on marijuana-related arrests.
The editorial writer notes that Obama can reignite the youth vote by making a statement that marijuana policy needs to be revisited - not even actually do anything before an election - while Ethan Nadelmann, of the Drug Policy Alliance, wonders if the Obama administration has been co-opted by holdover appointees (he's talking about you, Michele Leonhart.)
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or has caved to pharma and the prison industry. I don't think he is that spaced out.
bbgrunt
Dec 2011
#42
Ron Paul is so principled he supports discrimination. Sorry you fell for his bullshit.
MjolnirTime
Dec 2011
#104
The only reason anyone would support Ron Paul is because they haven't done any research.
MjolnirTime
Dec 2011
#136
Obama has a crappy Med Marijuana policy for the same reason that he sold us out
truedelphi
Dec 2011
#87
Obama hasn't been "silent"--he has actively ramped up a crackdown on Medical Marijuana.
Romulox
Dec 2011
#16
No. I didn't. Obama is in charge of the DEA, DOJ; He's a committed Drug Warrior.
Romulox
Dec 2011
#20
That's cool. ONE DAY you'll solve the mystery of who appointed Eric Holder, Michele Leonhart!`
Romulox
Dec 2011
#25
Why is remaining silent on an issue where speaking out would be political suicide mysterious?
Donald Ian Rankin
Dec 2011
#26
It would not surprise me - legalising cannabis would make a Republican look moderate.
Donald Ian Rankin
Dec 2011
#46
yet almost half of the population of the U.S. lives in places with legal medical marijuana
RainDog
Dec 2011
#68
It's not a far left position, it's a position that would make a politician be viewed as far left.
Donald Ian Rankin
Dec 2011
#89
I think politicians are probably accurately gauging electoral/media response.
Donald Ian Rankin
Dec 2011
#132
The issue may have changed just a bit - Gary Johnson is going to run for prez as a libertarian
RainDog
Dec 2011
#133
You're essentially asking, "Why do the right thing, if someone might criticize me?" They're called
Romulox
Dec 2011
#34
Those are the thinnest slices of hair I've ever seen! Bottom line, you defend the status quo. nt
Romulox
Dec 2011
#58
Only if the person you're talking to wants to "win" rather than to communicate. N.T.
Donald Ian Rankin
Dec 2011
#91
Anecdotally speaking, I have not seen 'the youth' united in demanding marijuana legalization.
randome
Dec 2011
#27
You don't have to smoke cannabis, you can use a vaporizer or ingest it combined with food.
Uncle Joe
Dec 2011
#76
The problem is that would still be prohibtion leaving all the dynamics in place
Uncle Joe
Dec 2011
#78
*You* support the Drug War. Why try to put *your* views in the mouth of "the Youth"? nt
Romulox
Dec 2011
#41
Right. You just *really, really* understand where the Drug Warriors are coming from. nt
Romulox
Dec 2011
#82
No. You don't. Because that's not a "paradox", it's just inconsistency on your part. Not the same.
Romulox
Dec 2011
#84
Obama never ran on legalizing Reefer. And he wouldn't be reelected if he did.
MjolnirTime
Dec 2011
#44
pardon me. slight exaggeration. majorities across ALL political id's except for Republicans
RainDog
Dec 2011
#126
He did make specific and detailed statements regarding policy that he needs to uphold
Bluenorthwest
Dec 2011
#55
The issue is not whether he supported it after it was approved by the party but why he didn't lead
grantcart
Dec 2011
#139
The clinics were being investigated for violating federal regulations regarding medical marijuana
treestar
Dec 2011
#135
I don't see a big downside for Obama in supporting marijuana legalization
aint_no_life_nowhere
Dec 2011
#70
people are losing their jobs because of the LEGAL medical marijuana trade in states here
RainDog
Dec 2011
#75
Does anyone believe that it would be easier than HCR or extending unemployment?
loyalsister
Dec 2011
#101
Getting out of the drug war game would greatly decrease the reach of the police state
TheKentuckian
Dec 2011
#88
I don't think there is any puzzling silence.. it's pretty clear that Obama supports the WOD.
lib2DaBone
Dec 2011
#92
I can't believe the number of people who cite politics as justification for Obama's silence....
mike_c
Dec 2011
#93
Not that puzzling - he ran as a liberal, and is governing as a far-right conservative
Doctor_J
Dec 2011
#103
Ya think there just might be a few hundred more pressing issues for him to deal with these days?
RBInMaine
Dec 2011
#106
But the Pen Stoke needs solid main stream justification so people can get over their fear
freedomnow
Dec 2011
#113
It is odd. It'd be low-hanging fruit to save taxpayer dollars, stimulate the economy, etc.
DirkGently
Dec 2011
#114
A question for all of you who feel Obama is silent on this for political purposes or electability
FlaGatorJD
Dec 2011
#116
It's a moral issue, and shameful that Obama has not had the courage of his convictions.
Kurovski
Dec 2011
#130